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PRICE, Paper Covers, 50 Cents, Cloth, $1 00. 



NINE MONTHS 



IN THE 



^imrtermast^r'B J^prtm^nt ; 



OR, 



THE CHANGES FOR 



MAKING A MILLION 



BT 



CHARLES LEIB, 

Late Captain and Assistant Quartermaster, U. S. Army. 



*A11 of which I eaw, and part of which I was." 
« ^ ♦ » >- — — 



CINCINNATI: 

PRINTED FOR THK AUTHOR BY 

MOORE, WILSTACH, KEYS & CO., 

No. 25 West Fourth Street. 

18 6 2. 



All Orders should be Addressed to CHAS. LEIB, CINCINNATI. 



NINE MONTHS 



IN THE 



QUAKTEEMASTEE'S DEPARTMENT ; 



OR. 



%ht Cljaiuts for Pahiiig a PillUii. 



BY 



CHARLES LEIB, 

LATE CAPTAIN AND ASSISTANT QUARTERMASTER U. S. ARMY. 



'Ail of which T saw, and part of which I wa»." 



/« 




CINCINNATI: 

MOORE, WILSTACH, KEYS & CO., Printers, 

No. 25 West Fourth Street. 

18 62. 






Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1862, 
By CHAELES LEIB, 

In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States for the Southern 

District of Ohio. 



CONTENTS. 



Preface v 

CHAPTER I. 

Opening of the Campaign in Western Virginia 7 

CHAPTER II. 
Appointed and take Possession 17 

CHAPTER III. 
Supply M'Clellan's Column „ 28 

CHAPTER IV. 
Clarksburg and its Notables 40 

CHAPTER V. 
Impressing Teams 50 

CHAPTER VI. 
An Indignation Meeting 62 

CHAPTER VII. 
Trials of the Quartermaster 74 

CHAPTER VIII. 
Arrest of the "Secesh" 89 



IV CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER IX. 
Comedy of War— The Night Attack 99 

CHAPTEE X. 
The Mule Department 109 

CHAPTER XI. 

The Express Courier Line and the Bushwhackers 124 

CHAPTER XII. 
The Notables we Met 133 

CHAPTER XIII. 
Humor of the Department 153 

CHAPTER XIY. 
Forwarding Troops 166 

CHAPTER XV. 
Virginia Justice 1 74 

CHAPTER XVI. 
Chief of Transportation 178 

CHAPTER XVII. 
We are Rejected 186 



PREFACE. 



The defection of the rebel States filled the civilized 
world with sorrow and surprise. Men, high in the confi- 
dence of the American people, whose loyalty was nob 
suspected. Cabinet officers, Senators, Members of Con- 
gress, and heads of Departments, threw themselves into 
the vortex of rebellion, and boldly advocated the overthrow 
of the Government. 

Making the success of the Republican party at the last 
Presidential election a pretext for their disloyalty, the 
Southern leaders and press, by articles of the most 
violent character, induced the belief in the minds of the 
great mass of the Southern people, that it was the mis- 
sion of that party to exterminate their peculiar institu- 
tion, and thereby incited them to acts of treason and 
rebellion. The loyal men of the nation were called upon 
to suppress the rebellion, and nobly have they responded. 
To-day, more than six hundred thousand patriotic men, 

(V) 



VI PREFACE. 

are ready to bare their bosoms to the enemies of the 
Government, willing to sacrifice their lives, if need be, in 
defense of the glorious heritage bequeathed them by their 
patriotic forefathers. 

Desirous of doing his duty in the suppression of the 
rebellion, the author tendered his services to the Secretary 
of War, was appointed First Lieutenant in the Eleventh 
Infantry, U. S. Army, and promoted to a Captaincy in 
the Quartermaster's Department. 

The duties and responsibilities of that Department are 
so little understood by those who have no connection 
with it, its officers are so frequently and shamefully mis- 
represented, that we, who have had nine months' experi- 
ence in it, owe it to them, as well as the public, to give 
that experience at the most arduous and difficult post, the 
base of military operations in the Department of Western 
Virginia. 



THE 



CHANCES FOR MAKING A MILLIOK 



CHAPTER I. 

OPENING OF THE CAMPAIGN IN WESTERN VIRGINIA. 

Immediately after the passage of tlae Ordinance 
of Secession by the Richmond Convention, the 
rebel leaders in "Western Virginia commenced the 
organization of military companies, as they de- 
clared, for home protection. Along the line of the 
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad they were especially 
active, and by their violent threats, to a great 
extent, overawed the loyal men. 

On the 17th of May, fifteen hundred rebels, com- 
manded by Colonel Porterfield, marched into Fet- 
terman, and on the 23d took possession of Grafton. 

During this time, the First Regiment of Virginia 
Infantry was organizing at Wheeling, composed of 
volunteers principally from Pennsylvania and Ohio. 
It was mustered into service by Captain William 
Craig, A. Q. M., U. S. Army, a most energetic and 
accomplished officer, who performed the arduous 

(7) 



8 THE CHANCES FOR MAKING A MILLION. 

duties of Mustering Officer, Quartermaster and 
Commissary. 

I^ews having readied Washington of the occu- 
pation of Grafton, and the burning of a number of 
bridges on the Baltimore and Ohio Raih'oad, Colo- 
nel B. F. Kelley, commanding the regiment, was 
ordered to march against them, and to assume 
control of the railroad. 

In the mean time the "Woods Guard," of Pitts- 
burg, Pa., arrived at Wheeling, and were mustered 
into service, under the call for volunteers for three 
years, forming the nucleus for the Second Virginia 
Regiment. 

Colonel Kelley 's whole available force left Camp 
Carlile for the seat of war, on Monday morning. 
May 26th. Marching orders were received amid 
a terrific storm of wind, rain, and hail ; but every 
heart was light, and every eye brightened at the 
prospect of an early engagement. 

The order to march was given ; each company 
moved quietly from camp to the Ordnance office, 
where the men were supplied with ammunition, 
and as day was breaking, the regular tread of 
infantry was heard marching across the suspension 
bridge, and through the principal thoroughfares 
of the city toward the railroad depot. 

The whole city was wrapped in profound slum- 
ber. "No drum was beat, not a sound passed the 
lips of the men ; and, as company after company 
defiled through the streets, it seemed like march- 



OPENING OF THE CAMPAIGN. 9 

ing through the city of the dead. Until they 
reached the depot, neither officers nor men could 
form any idea of their destination, so secretly had 
the movement heen kept. 

Here Colonel Kelley ordered an inspection of 
arms, and, much to his surprise, found that many 
of the men had never seen a minie rifle cartridge 
before, and had loaded their pieces by placing the 
ball in the muzzle and ramming it down with the 
charge of powder on top. The charges were care- 
fully withdrawn, and the men instructed how to 
load and fire. 

They were indeed citizen-soldiers. Officers and 
men, with but few exceptions, were ununiformed ; 
and most of the swords the officers had were of a 
primitive character. The men were well armed 
with minie muskets, and although some of them 
were ragged and almost barefooted, in many cases 
having no tents, and but few blankets, they left 
cheerfully for the field of action, feeling they were 
engaged in a holy cause, each one resolved to die, 
if need be, in defense of that starry flag, which for 
so many long years had waved o'er them, and 
which is the pride and glory of every patriot's 
heart. 

As the train "passed the difl'erent railroad sta- 
tions, the excitement became intense ; and at Glov- 
er's Gap the Secessionists boldly threatened, that 
no more trains loaded with soldiers should pass 
that point. 



10 THE CHANCES FOR MAKING A MILLION. 

On arriving at Mannington the citizens provided 
the ahnost famished men with dinner. Here 
Colonel Kelley learned that two bridges, east 
of that point, had been burned, and immediately 
ordered the arrest and close confinement of several 
prominent rebels, who had participated in the out- 
rage. 

Moving rapidly forward to the first burnt bridge, 
he ordered the erection of a temporary structure, 
to enable the passage of the train. The men 
worked with a will. They were anxious to go 
forward, and each vied with the other in his efibrts 
to perform the duty imposed upon him. ISTight 
coming on haversacks were examined, and as there 
was but little in them, a car was disj3atched to 
Mannington for provisions to replenish the com- 
missariat. Cheerfully its patriotic people res- 
ponded to the request of the Colonel. 

The men bivouacked in a meadow, making beds 
of rails, some of them having no covering save 
the blue canopy of Heaven ; but every star was to 
them a star of hope. It had been a rainy, bluster- 
ing day, but in the evening the rain ceased, a cold 
west wind blew all night, the standing water was 
covered with ice, and the grass frozen hard. 

Hardly had the troops lain down, until an order 
came from Colonel Kelley, directing Company A, 
of the Second Regiment, to proceed to Glover's 
Gap, to. protect the railroad bridge, which the reb- 
els threatened to burn the next day. They had 



OPENING OF THE CAMPAIGN. 11 

already cut the telegraph wire, and torn up a por- 
tion of the track. 

In a few moments the men were ready to move, 
and at tvv^o o'clock arrived there, arrested the par- 
ticipators in the outrage, and early in the morning 
six men were detailed under command of Lieuten- 
ant 0. R. West, to arrest other parties who were 
implicated. 

Among these was one Stephen Roberts, a notori- 
ous character, noted for his bullying propensities, 
who had made bold threats against the few Union 
men in that locality. Coming suddenly upon him 
in company with other rebels, he swore he would 
not, and could not, be taken by all the Federal 
troops in Western Virginia, leveled his rifle at the 
Lieutenant, but fortunately it snapped, when he 
ordered his men to fire, and in a moment Roberts 
was a corpse. 

Thus fell the first rebel in Western Virginia. 
The death of Roberts was the death-knell of their 
hopes in that locality, for the news spreading rap- 
idly, in less than two days, nearly all the Secession- 
ists came in and voluntarily took the oath. 

This had been an infected district. A company 
organized there was ready to join the rebel forces, 
and would have done so within a few days, but the 
death of their trusted leader caused them to dis- 
band. 

The day following that upon which the Virginia 
troops moved from Wheeling, the Fourteenth 



12 THE CHANCES FOR MAKING A MILLION. 

Ohio Regiment, commanded by Colonel Stedman, 
arrived at Parkersburg, and proceeded to guard 
the bridges on the ]N"orth-western branch of the 
Baltimore and Ohio Raih'oad, which were also 
threatened to be burned. 

Colonel I. H. Morrow, commanding the Third 
Ohio, entered Virginia a few days later at Ben- 
wood, and was quickly followed by the Seventh 
and ISTinth Indiana Regiments, under command of 
Brigadier-General Thomas A. Morris. 

The temporary bridges were finished, trains 
were again running regularly, and supplies and 
troops were rapidly sent forward, while a detach- 
ment of men was detailed to guard every bridge. 
Everything ready. General Morris pushed forward 
to Grafton, anticipating, from the strength of the 
rebel position and their numbers, a sharp engage- 
ment ; but was doomed to disappointment, for on 
his arrival they had fled. 

They boasted of their prowess and bravery 
(although six determined Union men, with levelled 
rifles, prevented fifteen hundred from tearing down 
the stars and stripes), but when their scouts brought 
the information of the approach of the Federal 
troops, such a stampede took place as has not been 
witnessed outside of Western Virginia since the 
commencement of the war. 

It was a Gilpin race. Alarmed and panic-stricken, 
many of them threw aside their arms and accou- 
trements, while the cavalry retreated at the top of 



OPENING OF THE CAMPAIGN. 13 

tlieir horses' speed. Spectators declare it was a 
most laughable and interesting scene, to see four- 
teen hundred men breaking along the road leading 
to Phillippi — never stopping to assist the hopeless 
wights, whose wind proved too short for so long a 
race. 

When they reached Phillipi, feeling themselves 
out of harm's way, they made a stand ; became 
patriotic, and resolved to die, if need be, in defense 
.of their " homes and firesides," and the graves of 
their fathers. 

Grafton presented a busy scene. Soldiers poured 
in by regiments, companies, and detachments. 
Citizens and newspaper correspondents came by 
scores, hotels were crowded, provisions scarce, and 
empty cars were in great demand for sleeping 
apartments. Some of the troops had neither tents 
nor transportation, and empty houses were taken 
possession of for quarters. So limited were they 
in number that the men were literally packed to- 
gether while sleeping. Sickness was engendered, 
and was the cause of the large return of sick, in 
the army of Western Virginia, in the first months 
of the campaign. 

Although the headquarters of the army, there 
was neither Quartermaster nor Commissary ; and 
for several days, officers and soldiers helped them- 
selves, from such stores as arrived. 

Many amusing scenes occurred. Officers joined 
their companies they had not seen before, and it 



14 THE CHANCES FOR MAKING A MILLION. 

was not an unusual sight to see a Captain muster- 
ing his men, and another officer, sauntering along, 
would declare a portion of his company in the 
ranks. 

On the eve of the battle of Phillipi, General 
Morris ordered four companies to remain and 
guard the post. At roll-call the next morning, 
but one hundred and twenty answered, one com- 
2Dany having only seventeen men — the rest had 
gone to the fight ; and it was several weeks before 
some of them rejoined their companies. 

Resting the troops for a day. General Morris 
sent forward fifteen hundred men in difierent 
detachments, under command of Colonels Kelley, 
Milroy, and Dumont, who suddenly appeared at 
Phillipi about day-break the morning of the 8d ; 
charged the rebels right and left, causing them to 
beat a precipitate retreat. 

They had received information from Miss Abby 
Kerr, of Fairmont, whose father and two brothers 
were among their forces, that the day following 
they would be attacked. She had learned this from 
some source, and started on horseback, accompa- 
nied by a Miss McCloud, whose lover was also in 
the rebel army, eluded our pickets, and made their 
way to the camp. 

Their rout was complete. It was a continuation 
of Grafton races ; but this time they left behind, 
arms, ammunition, clothing, horses, wagons, sub- 
sistence stores, and a very large number of letters, 



OPENING OF THE CAMPAIGN. 15 

written by hands of, fair rebels, congratulating 
tbem upon the spirit of patriotic devotion, wliich. 
had induced them to volunteer in defense of 
" Southern rights," and leave their homes, promis- 
ing to take "care of them if wounded, and to 
mourn for them if killed." 

When our forces arrived at Phillipi, they were 
worn down with fatigue, having marched twenty- 
two miles from 11 o'clock at night. 

The roads were in a horrible condition, the mud 
ankle deep, the night so dark that the outlines of 
the forms of the men could not be discerned even 
at a few feet distant, and the rain descended in 
torrents. 

To -enable them to bear up under such severe 
fatigue, they were ordered to throw away every- 
thing they had, except arms and ammunition. 

Some of the men, from exhaustion, were left by 
the way ; but the troops pushed forward, and 
would have taken the whole camp by surprise, had 
not a woman, living within half a mile of it, hear- 
ing the tramp of the men, fired a pistol, which 
alarmed the pickets, who roused the camp. 

"When the charge was made, some ludicrous 
scenes occurred. Dozens of the flying soldiery 
were seen rushing along the road, with their coats 
in one hand, their pantaloons in the other, and the 
white flag streaming out behind. Others were 
bare-footed, while one fellow had only time to get 
one leg into his breeches, and in the hurry to get 



16 THE CHANCES FOR MAKING A MILLION. 

iu the other, lost his balance, and fell to the 
ground. 

A farmer residing in the neighborhood, visited 
the camp the night before, and was induced to 
remain until morning. When the attack was made, 
he took refuge in an old stable, imagining himself 
safe ; but a six-pound cannon ball, passing through 
the stable, took off his leg. 

Colonel Kelley was severely wounded by Lieu- 
tenant Simms, Quartermaster of the rebel regiment. 
For his gallantry on that occasion he was promoted 
to a Brigadiership. 

The battle of Phillipi caused great rejoicing, and 
was the first of the series of victories won by the 
Federal troops in Western Virginia. 



APPOINTED AND TAKE POSSESSION. 17 



CHAPTER II. 

APPOINTED AND TAKE POSSESSION. 

In May, 1861, we received our appointment from 
the Secretary of War, and reported for orders to 
Brigadier General Montgomery C. Meigs, Quarter- 
master General, U. S. A., were courteously re- 
ceived, and on signifying a desire to be stationed 
at Cairo, Illinois, where our troops were in hourly 
expectation of an attack from the rebel forces, he 
directed us to report personally to Major General 
McClellan, at Cincinnati, Ohio, observing that he 
would doubtless gratify our desire. 

On arriving at that city we were chagrined to 
learn he had moved to the mountains of Wesiorn 
Virginia ; but reported to Captain IST. H. McLean, 
Assistant Adjutant General, who immediately tele- 
graphed the General, and received for reply : 

^' Direct Captain Leib to join me at once." 

Hastening to Grafton we were ordered to Clarks- 
burg, then an obscure town, unknown outside the 
limits of the State, but rendered important from 
the fact of having been the base of military opera- 
tions, in the department of Western Virginia. 

Taking the early morning train on the ISTorth- 

Western branch of the Baltimore and Ohio Rail- 

2 



18 THE CHANCES FOR MAKING A MILLION. 

road, after a ride of twenty-two miles, through a 
wild and almost unbroken country, the scenery 
of which is picturesque and grand, we arrived at 
our post, and called upon the Acting Quartermas- 
ter, who expressed great gratification at being 
relieved from the arduous duties he had been per- 
forming for one day. 

Up to this time the Quartermaster had been 
changed almost daily. 

Entering upon our duties at once; having no 
experience, nor yet experienced subordinates ; with- 
out a copy of Army Regulations, to familiarize us 
with the requirements of "red tape," we felt as 
does the mariner cast away in an open boat on an 
unknown ocean, without chart, compass, or rudder. 

There were but few troops there ; the Eighteenth 
and Seventh Ohio, Howe's Battery, U. S. A., the 
Sturges Eifles, of Chicago, Barker's Chicago Dra- 
goons, Burdsall's Cavalry, and a portion of the Third 
Virginia Infantry, comprised the whole force. 

Colonel Tyler, commanding the Seventh Ohio 
regiment, an officer whose intimate knowledge of 
every mountain path and fastness, peculiarly fitted 
him to command the advance, was just preparing 
to move to the mountains. Taking advantage of 
the ignorance of our predecessor, he succeeded in 
obtaining from him a much larger amount of trans- 
portation than he was entitled to ; a portion of 
which he was compelled to return to us, by order 
of General McClellan. 



APPOINTED AND TAKE POSSESSION. 19 

The regiments that had passed through the 
country had contracted bills of every description. 
Their Quartermasters had no money, but gave 
orders on the Quartermaster at Clarksburg, for 
their payment. The necessities of the service re- 
quired that the articles should be had, and the 
vendors were happy to accept the orders. Many 
of the Quartermasters had no knowledge of the 
requirements of the regulations ; and in many cases 
the evidence of indebtedness was worthless. 

In three hours after we took charge of the de- 
partment, indebtedness amounting to at least five 
thousand dollars, was presented to us, to all of 
which we found some objection, for the purpose 
of gaining time ; stating that the accounts were 
not in proper shape, and that the vouchers were 
not sufficient ; all of which, when we became famil- 
iar with the business of the department, we found 
to be correct. 

ISiow our troubles commenced in earnest. Colo- 
nels, Captains, and Regimental Quartermasters — 
all of them as ignorant as our self — wanted every 
description of supplies. 

" Certainly : anything I have you can get, by 
presenting the proper papers." 

What were the proper papers? "We did not 
know. Fortunately, there was a copy of Army 
Regulations at the office of the commander of the 
post. We borrowed it an hour, and were safe; 
for we learned that, upon a special requisition, a 



20 THE CHANCES FOR MAKING A MILLION. 

Quartermaster could transfer stores to a commis- 
sioned officer, and the order of the commandant 
of the post, was his authority for doing so. 

For two months we required, for every article, 
a requisition. Duplicates are required of every 
paper, in the department ; and when we requested 
duplicate receipts, officers frequently refused to 
give them ; declaring they would not give two 
receipts for the same thing ; that they would not 
be cheated in that way. Even after explaining to 
them, that one was to remain in our office, and the 
other would be sent to the office of the Quarter- 
master General, at Washington, they would fre- 
quently object to signing them. On one occasion, 
a Captain, on being requested to sign duplicate 
receipts, exclaimed : 

'' Duplicate receipts ! H — 1 ! "What kind are 
they?" 

The day following, General McClellan and staff 
arrived. Everything was bustle and confusion. 
tlis coming caused great enthusiasm among the 
inhabitants, who flocked, by scores, to his camp, 
to see the youthful commander ; and many sage 
predictions as to his success were indulged in by 
the wiseacres of the town. 

The troops were inspired by his presence, and 
filled with the most ardent anticipations of success. 
He immediately issued an order for the construc- 
tion of a military telegraph line, and Captain An- 
son Stager, now of the Quartermaster's department, 



APPOINTED AND TAKE POSSESSION. 21 

having it in charge, went to work in earnest, to 
push it through in the least possible space of time. 
We were called upon to furnish transportation for 
the material, and for such articles as were needed 
for its construction ; but objected, demurred, did 
not know from whom we were to obtain receipts, 
as Captain Stager was not then a commissioned 
officer, and we knew nothing of the rule of the 
department with reference to boards of survey, 
and expending goods worn out in the public serv- 
ice. 'No order had been received from the depart- 
ment commander to furnish the stores, and we 
would not deliver them. The telegraph-builder 
became- furious, and declared he would not go 
ahead with the line, unless he had the facilities 
required afforded him. We could not help it ; had 
no order ; were responsible for all the stores ; and 
General McClellan could not get them without 
proper receipts. Captain Rufus Saxton, Chief 
Quartermaster of the department, was appealed to, 
and upon his assurance that receipts should be 
forthcoming, every want of Captain Stager was 
supplied. 

E'early all the military telegraph lines con- 
structed in Western Virginia, were furnished from 
the Clarksburg depot, and knowing the interests 
of the service required it, every facility for build- 
ing, protecting, and keeping them in repair, was 
afforded the Superintendent and his assistants, 
although the repairers broke down, and rendered 



22 THE CHANCES FOR MAKING A MILLION. 

unfit for use, a large number of horses, by the 
hard usage and little care bestowed upon them. 

In a few days work commenced in earnest. 
"Whole railroad trains began to arrive, with every 
species of Quartermaster's property. Horses and 
wagons by hundreds, hats, caps, boots, shoes, tents, 
blankets, harness leather, horse shoes, iron, mess 
pans, camp kettles, axes, picks, hatchets, shovels, 
and every conceivable article used in a campaign, 
were rushed in. There were no store-houses, and 
no place to store the goods, while there was not a 
single tarjDaulin to be had, to protect them from 
the weather. 

A little store-house, belonging to a rebel who 
had joined the Confederate army, had been taken 
possession of, and was occupied by us, in conjunc- 
tion with Lieutenant Charles Allen, Acting Com- 
missary of Subsistence, (a capital officer,) but was 
not of sufficient capacity to store the one-hun- 
dredth part of property received. 

The railroad agents would tumble off stores, 
helter-skelter, along the line of the road for half 
a mile, wherever a spot could be found, without 
giving our clerks time to receive them ; and we 
were obliged to ask a detail of soldiers to gnard 
them. By dint of coaxing and begging, we gen- 
erally succeeded in securing the detail asked for; 
but the instant the back of their officer was turned, 
in most cases, the men would slip oft', swearing 
they had come to fight, and not to watch stores. 



APPOINTED AND TAKE POSSESSION. 23 

General McClellan remained but a sliort time. 
He was to move the Sunday following to Bnck- 
hannon, and was anxious to take with him a train 
of at least one hundred wagons, loaded principally 
with commissary stores. We had the diiferent 
parts of several hundred wagons, but they had 
been so mixed, in shipping them at Cincinnati, 
and reshipping at Belle- Air, that it was next to 
impossible to get them together properly. A large 
force was detailed for that purpose ; but upon 
examination only ten were found fit for immediate 
service. Hind wheels had been put on front axles, 
linchpins lost or thrown away by the men, who 
were anxious to get through in the shortest space 
of time, wagon-hammers stolen, bows broken, and 
swingletrees carried ofi:'. We were disappointed 
and mortified, and reported the condition of afiairs 
to the General, who said, 

" Get the wagons in running order as soon as 
possible. I will depend upon your prompt for- 
warding of supplies." 

" You may, sir. At what time will you move in 
the morning ? " 

"At five o'clock, precisely." 

" The wagons will be ready at that hour." 

As the minute hand denoted the hour of Rye we 
were at the General's marquee, with watch in 
hand. He had just risen, and was performing his 
morning ablutions. 



24 THE CHANCES FOR MAKING A MILLION. 

" General, it is just five o'clock. Your teams 
are ready to move." 

" You are prompt, Captain. Do not forget the 
supplies." 

" Your order sliall be strictly obeyed." 

In tlie course of two weeks we received and had 
in tlie government corral, two thousand horses ; 
many of them fine looking animals, but too young 
for the service required of them, while others had 
been " doaped," for purpose of sale, and by the 
time they returned from one trip to the moun- 
tains, were fit subjects for the hospital; especially 
as a large majority of the men we were compelled to 
employ as teamsters, bestowed no care upon them. 

It was not in horses alone the government was 
swindled ; but it seemed to us, that the contract- 
ors who furnished supplies, vied with each other 
in furnishing the poorest articles the market 
could afibrd. 

The Commanders, or Quartermasters of a large 
majority of the regiments coming to "Western Vir- 
ginia, were sent to Clarksburg for their transporta- 
tion. Every one was determined to select the best 
horses in the " corral," and the finest wagons at 
the post. This could not be permitted. It was 
right they should have a fair average of horses 
and wagons ; but we could not, and would not, 
comply with a demand that would work manifest 
injustice to those who had not been supplied. 



APPOINTED AND TAKE POSSESSION. 25 

A Colonel, noted alike for his ignorance of mil- 
itary matters and want of good breeding, came to 
Clarksburg to select transportation for bis regi- 
ment. He did not call on us until be bad exam- 
ined all our borses, wben be came blustering into 
tbe office, and in an imperious tone demanded of 
one of our clerks : 

" Is Captain Leib about ? '" 

" Yes, sir ; tbat's bim," pointing to us. 

" Captain Leib, I bave some business witb you." 

" Yery well, sir ; as soon as I get tbrougb witb 
Lieutenant , I will attend to you." 

" I want to see you at once." 

" As soon as I get tbrougb witb tbe Lieutenant, 
but not before, sir." 

Tbe Colonel was indignant tbat we would not 
quit tbe young officer, but smotbered bis wratb for 
tbe moment. 

Having disposed of tbe Lieutenant, we turned 
to tbe Colonel, and said, blandly : 

" Wbat can I do for you, Colonel ? " 

" I bave a requisition for twenty-five teams." 

" Let me look at it." 

" Can't you take my word ? " 

" I can ; but I must see tbat it is correct, and in 
proper form." 

After a moment's hesitation, be banded it to us, 
and looking over it, we said : 

" Colonel, do you want borses, harness, halters, 
wagons, covers, tar pots, and water buckets ? " 
3 



26 THE CHANCES FOR MAKING A MILLION. 

" Of course I do." 

" This is not sufficient. You must specify every 
article. The Department holds me to a strict 
accountability for every article that comes into 
my hands, and I must have a receipt for every- 
thing I turn over to you." 

" That is sufficient. I don't intend giving a 
receipt for every d — d thing separate." 

" Then, sir, you can't have them ; besides, you 
can't have but twenty-two teams." 

" By G — d, sir, I want twenty -five teams, and I 
mean to have them." 

" Very well, sir ; if you get an order from the 
Department Commander, or Chief Quartermaster, 
you can have them ; but not without." 

He became terribly excited, cursed " red tape," 
and all Quartermasters ; whereupon, we ordered 
him to leave the office, which he did, swearing he 
would see about it. 

In the course of an hour, he returned in a better 
frame of mind, and presented a requisition for 
twenty-two teams, etc. The papers were right, 
and we gave an order for them. 

He wanted the post teams ; we refused : he in- 
sisted ; but finding we were determined, desisted. 

Having received the teams, he returned to the 
office, expressed his satisfaction at the character 
of the horses he had obtained, and quietly seating 
himself, indulged in the luxury of a cigar. 

After some time, he remarked : 



APPOmTBD AND TAKE POSSESSION. 27 

"Leib, I've just been sitting here watching you 
doing business." 

" Have you ? " 

" Yes. I had a very bad impression of you, 
from what I heard, and from what I seen of you in 
the Cincinnati Commercial; but I think you a 
good officer." 

" I'm glad to hear it. I try to do my duty." 

" Is the rush always as great as it is to-day ? " 

"It is." 

"If that's so, I wouldn't be Quartermaster at 
Clarksburg for the whole of Western Yirginia." 

When the Colonel left he shook us warmly by 
the hand, and urged us strongly to visit his regi- 
ment which would, in a few days, be at Cheat 
Mountain. 

We always will believe he telegraphed the Gen- 
eral to order us to furnish him twenty-five teams, 
and was refused. 



28 THE CHANCES FOR MAKING A MILLION. 



CHAPTER III. 

SUPPLY m'cLELLAN'S COLUMN. 

General McClellan having moved to the 
Mountams, we at once secured the services of a 
number of Wagonmakers and Blacksmiths, and 
taking all the force we could spare from the 
" corral/' set them to work fitting up wagons. 
They were steadily employed, day and night, and 
by Wednesday morning, July 4th, they had in 
complete running order, one hundred and nine 
wagons. During this time the Chief Wagon- 
master was busy with his men matching and 
breaking horses ; very many of them had never 
worked in harness. 

By three o'clock the train was loaded, and at 
four it moved toward Buckhannon, where it ar- 
rived late in the afternoon of the following day. 
The few rations the troops already there had 
taken with them had given out, and the arrival 
of the train was hailed with delight. They at 
once surrounded it, and in spite of the Wagon- 
master, who insisted on being permitted to de- 
liver the stores to the Quartermaster, they took 
possession of everything edible and carried it to 
their respective camps, leaving their officers to 



SUPPLY m'cLELLAN'S COLUMN. 29 

arrange the matter with the Quartermaster and 
Commissary, as best they could. But this was 
not all. The teamsters had hardly finished un- 
hitching their horses, until they were surrounded 
by a crowd of ofiicers, who, without ceremony, 
took possession of horses and wagons, and re- 
fused to give receipts for them. They insisted they 
must have the teams ; the "Wagonmaster pro- 
tested against their being taken ; and finally, 
after begging and coaxing, succeeded in obtaining 
lead-pencil receipts, on slips of paper, not two 
inches in width ; in two instances on the margin 
of a newspaper : such vouchers would be scouted at 
at the Quartermaster-General's ofiace, especially as 
nothing was specified, save horses and wagons. 

We could do nothing. They had taken nearly 
all the train, and we have seen but few of the 
officers since. When the matter was mentioned 
to them, they were wofully ignorant of everything 
connected with it. The affidavit of the Wagon- 
master, stating the facts, with the memorandum 
receipts attached, will relieve an officer whose 
property is taken, when it is impossible to obtain 
other receipts ; while the officer taking it, is com- 
pelled to account for it. We received the follow- 
ing comforting dispatch from the Chief Quarter- 
master : 

JBuckhannon, July 7, 1861. 
Captain Charles Leib, A. Q. M. 

Of all that train, I could only send back fifteen 



30 THE CHANCES FOR MAKING A MILLION. 

wagons. It is absolutely necessary to liurry up 
supplies, and ammunition for small arms. 

Hire all the transportation you can, and if 
necessary press teams. Send a good "Wagon- 
master with every twenty wagons, with orders to 
report to me. Send as much hard bread as you 
can, and please inform me how many wagons you 
can send to-day and to-morrow. 

K. SAXTOI^, 
Chief Quartermaster. 

In the mean time we were' organizing trains, 
and pushing them forward, as rapidly as possible. 
For several weeks a portion of every train we 
sent out was seized, and the "Wagonmasters sent 
back without receipts. In one instance a whole 
train was taken; the Wagonmaster fearing to 
return, left Virginia, and up to this time we have 
not seen him. The facts as to the taking of the 
train, were elicited of a teamster, who was with it. 

Although frequently telegraphing the Chief of 
the Department and begging him to secure us the 
vouchers necessary, even he could not get them 
for us, as will be seen by the following telegram : 

Buckhannon, July 9, 1861. 
Captain Charles Leib, Clarksburg, Ya. 

What is the prospect of supplies to-day. Hurry 
them up, as fast as possible. I am afraid the 



SUPPLY M'cLELLAN's COLUMN. 31 

troops will not be supplied. It was impossible to 
get formal receipts for your teams in the hurry 
and confusion of getting off McClellan's column. 
You will have to get them, from time to time, as 
you can, from the different Quartermasters in 
charge, and if on closing your account there is a 
deficiency, I will give such a certificate, in addi- 
tion to your own, as will clear up your accounta- 
bility at the Treasury. Please send up as many 
newspapers as you can ; I have nothing to read. 

R. SAXTOIS", 
Chief Quartermaster, 

As fast as stores arrived, we made the most 
determined efforts to send them forward, and ex- 
perienced the greater difficulty in doing so, from 
the fact that but little of our transportation was 
returned. The course taken by the troops in 
taking possession of the stores the instant they 
arrived at their place of destination, and sometimes 
on the roadj prevented us from obtaining the 
necessary vouchers, while Wagonmasters, fearful 
of being censured for giving them up, would not 
return. 

Early in July, a gentleman called at our office 
and stated, that he had been appointed Assistant 
Quartermaster of Volunteers, and was on his way 
to join General McClellan. A young Lieutenant 
of Engineers, also on his way to Headquarters, 
made a requisition for transportation, and we 



32 THE CHANCES FOR MAKING A MILLION. 

gave the two what was termed an Ambulance, 
but which in reaUty was only a Cincinnati " Ginger 
Pop Wagon" repainted, and they left together. 
As they rode along, discussing the weather, the 
beautiful mountain scenery around and before 
them, and the probabilities of a speedy termina- 
tion of the rebellion, the young Lieutenant in- 
quired of our citizen appointee what he was 
going to Headquarters for. 

" Tm going into the Quartermaster's Depart- 
ment." 

"Oh ! you're going to be Chief Clerk, I suppose ?" 
" ]S"o ! I don't know that I am. I'm going to 
assist some Quartermaster." 

" You're to be Foragemaster, perhaps ?" 
" I don't know yet what I'm to be, but here's 
my commission." 

" Why," said he, looking at it, " You're an 
Assistant Quartermaster ! " ^ 

" Of course I am. That's just what I said. 
I'm to assist some Quartermaster." 

" What corps were you promoted from ? " 
"What corps! I never belonged to anything 
in my life but the militia." 

" Don't you belong to the army ? " 
"^N'o ! I don't know shoulder arms from riffht 
face." 

"Assistant Quartermaster! You'll find out 
what an Assistant Quartermaster is, old fellow, 
before this war is over." 



SUPPLY m'cLELLAIJ's COLUMN. 33 

He says lie has already learned more about 
it than he bargained for when he accepted the 
commission. He is, however, a competent officer, 
an energetic man, and we transacted a large amount 
of business with him. 

On the arrival of troops at Buckhannon, they 
found that nearly all the Secessionists had fled, 
fearing they would be arrested. Their houses 
were taken possession of, and converted into bar- 
racks. 

Nearly every man who was there, had a claim 
against the Government. One had lost his rails, 
another had had his horse taken by the army, 
others had been robbed of their cattle or poultry. 
It seemed as if every man was making an eflbrt 
"to make all he could out of the war," as 
some of them declared they would, and to compel 
the Government to pay them for sending troops to 
western Virginia, to protect their homes and fire- 
sides, while they remained quietly at home, wait- 
ing to see which party would triumph, before tak- 
ing a decided stand ; such is the position of many 
persons in that country. 

The Acting Quartermaster at Buckhannon had 
no funds, and referred their claims to Captain Leib. 
Down they came like so many hungry wolves, and 
with a pertinacity that knew no bounds, urged 
their payment. In many cases, they had no evidence 
to support their statements as to the damage they 
professed to have sustained. They were certain 



34 THE CHANCES FOR MAKING A MILLION. 

their statements would be sufficient to insure their 
prompt payment. 

This was not confined to that portion of country- 
alone, but to the whole Department. Frequently 
in the Kanawha Yalley, claims were presented, and 
upon investigation it proved that the loss sustained 
by them, was from the rebel army ; but Uncle 
Sam had plenty of money, and the Quartermaster 
who refused to discharge the claimed indebtedness, 
was sure to be denounced as a dishonest man. 

The following is a copy of a bill, which is simi- 
lar in character to others among the papers of the 
different officers of the Quartermaster's Depart- 
ment : 

" Ravenswood, Kovber 1st, 1861. 
« Sept. 19th, United States 

To House burnt by Rebles $400 00 

To 5 Apple Trees Burnt by Fire, $5 Ea 30 00 

To 2 plum Trees Burnt by Fire, $3 6 00 

To 2 Peach Trees Burnt by Fire, $3 6 00 

To 1 Tool and Tools 73 76 

To 1 Gring Stone 2 00 

To Bedsteds, Chears & Table, and other Fur- 
niture 37 14 

To Brass Kettle & Tin ware 10 00 

To 1 Clock 16 00 

To 1 Sett harness, bridle and Collar 5 10 

To Loss of Crop on the account of the Rebles, 39 16 

$625 15 

" Sir, the within account is the amt of Damages 
I sustained by the infernal secession outbrake in 



SUPPLY M'cLELLAN's COLUMN. 35 

Jackson, and would be glad if you can intersead, 
in refunding back my losses, the Rebles calld on 
me to fight for the South, as I v/as a Southern man, 
I told them ^ay, they made me leave my home, 
then I inlisted. they then Burnt my House and I 
am now in the service of the United States ser- 
vice. 

" Sir. You can learn of the Mr. D. Frostd, about 
the Burning of my House He published it in the 
Wheeling papers and hope by the Help of my god 
and Country To stand against the traitors as long 
as I live. 

" I was in my Country's service in the out Brak 
in Florida, got my Discharge, and they burnt it. 
Then they Burnt my house with my other valuable 
Papers. If you can Do something for me it will 
in these Hard times Help me. For the poor Solger 
boy, no more at Present, I remain Your Humble 
' Servant, excuse this writing 

LEWIS STOOPS." 

From Buckhannon, General McClellan moved to 
Poaring Pun, and from thence to Beverly, which 
was the principal depot in the Cheat Mountain 
district, for the distribution of Quartermaster and 
Commissary stores. Captain Charles W. Moul- 
ton, of Ohio, was assigned to duty there in the 
Quartermaster's department. We doubt not, in 
proportion to the amount of business transacted, 
his experience is equal to ours. 



36 THE CHANCES FOR MAKING A MILLION. 

The Tenth Ohio Eegiment, commanded by Colo- 
nel Wm. H. Lytle, arrived at Clarksburg early in 
July, and it is due to them to state, that while 
there, they afforded us every facility for protecting 
public stores, and promptly responded to every call 
made upon them for that purpose. 

The Thirteenth, Fourteenth, and Fifteenth Indi- 
ana came next, and pushed rapidly on, all anxious 
to participate in the expected fight. 

The Quartermaster of the Thirteenth is a pecu- 
liar man. At home, he is said to be a thrifty 
farmer, devoted to raising fine cattle and good 
crops. He delights in presiding at agricultural 
meetings, and is noted for the pertinacity with 
which he button-holes and bores those who are too 
polite to rebuff him. 

"While at Clarksburg, he was never seen without 
an umbrella under his arm, although the weather 
was delightful ; and was dubbed the Paul Pry of the 
army. We advised him to resign and go home, 
for no man is qualified to fill the position he holds, 
who will insist on discussing a question which can 
be answered by yes or no. 

Feeling more and more the necessity of having 
a storehouse for the protection of the large amount 
of public property in our hands, we resolved to 
build one. It was to be rapidly erected ; the order 
for the lumber given to parties, who represented 
that they could, and would, furnish it by a specified 
time, but the time passed ; new promises were made 



SUPPLY M'cLELLAN'S COLUMN. 37 

daily, and as often broken, until we rescinded tlie 
order ; and sending to Parkersburg, obtained it at 
once. 

The building was finished, and a magnificent one 
it is, being eighty feet front, and one hundred and 
forty-four deep. 

The lumber firm, feeling aggrieved and indig- 
nant that we would not wait their pleasure, and 
permit them to take their own time to furnish the 
material, reported us to Washington for having an- 
nulled the order, and refusing to give them " satis- 
faction." Their papers were indorsed by a United 
States Senator, who recommended our removal 
from that post, and we regretted that his recom- 
mendation was not acted on favorably, as for six 
months we begged to be relieved from duty there. 
Tor daring to do right, and not permitting thirty 
carpenters to be idle, at the expense of the Grov- 
ernment, to oblige a wealthy lumber firm, we 
were shamefully persecuted and misrepresented. 
The Quartermaster-General sent us the charges, 
which we returned with a simple statement of 
facts, and we have not since heard from it. 

At a later period, when erecting two large Com- 
missary buildings, we positively refused to pur- 
chase a foot of lumber from them, and were again 
reported, with a statement that we had refused to 
take their ofi'er, which they said was two dollars 
per thousand less than we were purchasing it from 
a . Secessionist at Parkersburg — both of which 



38 THE CHANCES FOE MAKING A MILLION. 

statements were false, as we paid less than they 
asked ; and the party from whom it was procured, 
was a devoted friend of the Union, and had voted 
for Mr. Lincoln for President. 

In this respect, they were not alone, for there are 
plenty of men, who, when we were first stationed 
at Clarksburg, approached us with hypocritical 
smiles, and honied words, and did not favor us 
with their presence when they found they could 
not put their hands into our safe, and filch from 
the public treasury. Patriots ! they were willing 
and anxious to make contracts, of some kind, by 
which they could make fortunes. 

During the time we were stationed at Clarksburg, 
we never gave but one contract (and that was 
upon the day of our rejection by the Senate), which 
was for forty tons of hay at twelve dollars per ton, 
while at Wheeling it was commanding thirteen 
dollars and fifty cents, at which point we had been 
obliged to purchase much of what we used. 

Semi-occasionally, a great change in the opin- 
ions of the people as to us, took place. At times 
they thought we were liberal, because we never 
refused to contribute to any charitable enterprise, 
a thing very many of the wealthier citizens were 
never suspected of being guilty of. Then we were 
denounced, because we would pay no account unless 
it was in proper form. They could not understand, 
why such a receipt as they gave a country mer- 
chant, was not sufficient for the Quartermaster. 



SUPPLY m'CLELLAN'S COLUMN. 39 

One wiseacre announced very triumphantly that 
he had caught us cheating the Government. We 
purchased a small amount of oats from him, and 
took duplicate receipts for the money, when he 
declared he had been obliged to give two receipts 
for the same thing; that Captain Leib had told 
him he must have two, and he knew Captain 
Leib was " cheating the Government, doing that 
way." 

Thus it will be seen that it is time the common 
school system was introduced in "Western Virginia. 



40 THE CHANCES FOR MAKING A MILLION. 



CHAPTER IV. 

CLARKSBURG AND ITS NOTABLES. 

This " Ancient Metropolis of Western Virginia," 
as its people delight in calling it, lies in a little val- 
ley, on. one side of which runs Elk Creek, and on 
the other the West fork of Monongahela river. 
On all sides loom up wild, desolate-looking hills, 
covered to their summits with the " forest pri- 
meval." 

The town itself is only approached by dilapida- 
ted-looking bridges across the streams before men- 
tioned, and is laid out irregularly, with little regard 
to artistic taste or beauty. It is a motley collection 
of rickety frame houses, dirty-looking brick dwell- 
ings, and old stone buildings, some of which are 
propped up by large pieces of scantling — shattered 
monuments of the first families of Virginia. 

For the most part, the grounds around the 
dwellings are alike destitute of good taste or com- 
fort. 

The town boasts a Court House (a most extra- 
ordinary specimen of architecture), which is used 
for every purpose besides its legitimate one : for 



CLARKSBURG AND ITS NOTABLES. 41 

fairs, balls, parties, political, indignation, and other 
meetings. 

Almost every sect is represented by a Cliiirch, 
the most of which have been sadly disfigured by 
the troops occupying them for barracks. There is 
also an Academy, which has been turned into a 
guard-house and prison, for the numerous politi- 
cal prisoners sent there. 

An air of listless inactivity broods over the whole 
town. Many of the people are hospitable and 
kind, the ladies refined and educated — have more 
energy than the men — who, for the most part, 
are lazy, indolent, and delight in interfering 
with the affairs of strangers. Their principal 
occupation, in the drowsy Summer afternoons, is 
to sit upon their door-steps, with their little ne- 
groes playing at their feet, gazing into the street; 
at times discussing the war, and marking out plans 
for our Generals to follow. 

Pacing along the deserted streets in the twilight, 
the only sounds which are heard beside the tramp 
of your own footsteps, are the merry ringing laugh 
of childhood, the tinkle of a distant cow-bell, and 
the braying of the Government mules. 

The languid inactivity of the town reminds one 
of those primitive Dutch places in JSTew York, 
so graphically described by Washington Irving. 
There the resemblance ends, for an ancient Dutch 
burgher would be horrified at the unthriftiness and 

4 



42 THE CHANCES FOR MAKING A MILLION. 

laziness of tliose claiming to be the descendants of 
the Cavaliers. 

This is the old town. 

At the depot, half a mile distant, where the 
Government buildings are erected for the Quarter- 
master and Commissary departments, all is activity 
and bustle. Trains are continually coming and 
going, bearing stores to distant posts. Troops 
are passing rapidly through, enthusiastic with 
patriotism, and anxious to get a glance at Secessia. 
Messengers with dispatches are rapidly hurrying 
from camp to camp. There is the ceaseless roll 
of white-topped army wagons, dissatisfied claim- 
ants hanging around the Quartermaster's office, 
importuning the sentry for admission tho' know- 
ing it is already full ; the endless ringing of the 
blacksmith's hammer, the activity and bustle of 
the wagon-shop ; enthusiastic individuals who have 
just discovered a new plan by which transport- 
ation can be hastened, or anxious to dispose of 
horses at a high price from disinterested motives, 
because they are "good Union men;" the arrival 
and departure of special trains laden with every 
description of stores, and numerous Secessionists 
in the guise of Union men, watching the slightest 
movement and catching every whisper, hoping 
thereby to learn something favorable to the rebel 
cause, which they may be able to turn to advan- 
tage. 

This is the new town. 



CLARKSBURG AND ITS NOTABLES. 43 

In a large orchard, belonging to Major Jackson, 
(a noted Secessionist,) between the old town and 
new, is located the government " corral," where 
are kept the horses, mules, and the necessary 
equipments for transportation. Every thing betok- 
ens the activity of a Government depot. Here is a 
large hay-house, filled to its utmost capacity, with 
a dozen men pressing and curing hay. Forage- 
masters issuing forage, men digging wells, ostlers 
cleaning and feeding horses, others breaking them 
to harness — all is bustle and work. There are 
no idle men here, and every man is required to do 
his whole duty. 

Again we cross the bridge, the outer world is 
left behind, and we breathe the enchanted air of 
Sleepy Hollow. 

THE NOTABLES. 

One of the chief personages of the town, from 
the fact that he occupies the most modern resi- 
dence in it, is , Esq., a self-styled aristocrat. 

His residence is situated a short distance from the 
road, the green surface of the beautiful yard in 
front of it being diversified with parterres of flow- 
ers, and clumps of ornamental shrubbery. The 
rooms of the dwelling are decorated with hand- 
some and richly-carved furniture. Hanging from 
the walls, in frames of the most heavy and ornate 
description, are pictures, which glaring in color, 
betray mediocre ability in execution ; plainly show- 
ing, that though the owner had wealth to purchase, 



44 THE CHANCES FOR MAKING A MILLION. 

he had neither the ability to select, nor the educa- 
tion to appreciate works of art. 

He approaches you with the obsequiousness of a 
Uriah Heep, and by his overstrained politeness, he 
seeks to propitiate you, and disguises his real sen- 
timents by professing to be a Union man ; which 
latter emotion he never felt, until he became satis- 
fied the Federal arms would triumph in "Western 
Virginia. 

An attorney, he seeks alone in the lower paths 
of his profession for money, and never pants for 
glory in its higher walks ; but like the old man in 
Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress, toiling continually 
amid the muck and mire of this sordid world, 
never raises his eyes to Heaven. He has no friends, 
not a generous thought or noble impulse, and 
cares only for self. Feared by his inferiors, of 
whom he has but few intellectually, and despised 
by his equals, it is only to be wondered that he 
does not despise himself. 

' T is said, he occasionally shaves paper with the 
grace and ease of a Wall street broker, and with 
the rapacity of a Shylock, holds his debtor to the 
very letter of the bond. 

Another of the notables is 'Squire "W , who 

claims to be a leading Union man. He is a med- 
dlesome little body, always ready to quarrel, and 
his character was best described by himself when 
he informed us, " I have been fighting this com- 
munity for twenty years." The 'Squire is exceed- 



CLARKSBURG AND ITS NOTABLES. 45 

ingly pugnacious, and the man who dares differ 
with him, upon any subject, incurs his displeasure. 

He is shiftless, has no idea of thriftiness, and 
takes great delight in interfering with the busi- 
ness of others. 

He sustains the Government from principle, and 
from principle tries to make out of it all he pos- 
sibly can. The 'Squire was fierce in his denun- 
ciations of those whose claims were exorbitant. 
They should not be paid ; but he had a small claim 
of twenty-two hundred dollars, and as he was a 
Union man, it was but right it should be settled. 
It would have been a small fortune for him, and 
he would have been enabled to put in good order 
his farm, which for years had been only a com- 
mon. For six months he worked faithfully to 
induce a Board of Claims to allow it ; but to no 
purpose. Finally he appealed to the General com- 
manding the Department, and it was referred to 
us. 'We measured the land, learned the real num- 
ber of rails destroyed, and investigated the facts. 
Dire was the wrath of the 'Squire when he learned 
it was in our hands. All hopes of obtaining more 
than the loss sustained were at an end. He un- 
corked the vial of his wrath, and we were to feel 
its power. We made a report, and incurred his 
hatred for life, by recommending the payment to 
him of eight hundred dollars. 

In his way, he professes to be a General Jack- 
son ; at least he supposed himself Jacksonian in 



46 THE CHANCES FOR MAKING A MILLION. 

character ; but those who knew him best say that 
his Jacksonianism is only the principle that pre- 
dominates in the mule. It became necessary 
during the winter to use some of the churches for 
barracks. Two only, the Episcopal and Baptist, 
were not taken. The former had a pastor, and 
was all the town could boast, save the chaplain 
of a Virginia Cavalry Regiment, who to us 
seemed more like a Virginia Horse Jockey, than 
a teacher of the doctrines of the Bible. The 
'Squire never liked the Episcopalians ; they were 
a " stuck-up set," and too proud for him, and he 
would take the responsibility of having the 
church taken. One cold, blustering day in Febru- 
ary, a company of Virginia Infantry marched into 
town, and without giving the Captain time to make 
a requisition on us for quarters, the 'Squire ordered 
the men to take possession of the Episcopal 
church, and they obeyed. In the discharge of 
our duty, it became necessary to speak to him in 
a decided manner. His ire was roused ; there was 
to be no more peace for us, but our shoulders 
were broad, and we survived. 

The boniface of the town deserves a passing 
notice. His political ambition no defeat can 
daunt, nor misfortune check. The political Wil- 
kins Macawber, of Western Virginia, he is always 
waiting for something to turn up, in a political 
way ; is always a candidate, with a certainty of 
success, but is sure of defeat. Slovenly in attire, 



CLARKSBURG AND ITS NOTABLES. 47 

uncouth in manner, he is hardly a fair specimen 
of a Western Virginian, claiming to belong to 
" one of the first families." 

Another individual, upon every lineament of 
whose face is written petty larceny, can he de- 
scribed in a few words ; for as one of the old 
Greek philosophers described a cotemporary as a 
philosopher among fools, though a fool among 
philosophers, so is he a boor among gentlemen, 
though a gentleman among boors. 

One of the notables, has not, inappropriately, 
been called the dog of his party. He is on all 
sides of every question, neither pig nor puppy, 
and is only noted for his lying propensities and 
cowardice. He does not even possess the boldness 

of the father of his family, Cain. These men 

are the representatives of their class. We would 
not convey the idea, that all resemble them, for 
beautiful flowers often grow among poisonous 
shrubs. 

Mr. M , Clerk of the Court, is a polished 

gentleman, possesses fine literary attainments, 
a cultivated taste, a high order of intellect, and 
his manner is remarkably winning. One of the 
master spirits of the Union party, he was among 
the first to take a stand in upholding the Federal 
Government, and enforcing the laws. To the 
rebels, he was obnoxious, they alleging that 
at his instigation many of them were arrested 
on the arrival of the Federal troops. Should the 



48 THE CHANCES FOR MAKING A MILLION. 

rebels ever obtain possession of Western Virginia, 
his fate would be inevitably sealed. Esculapius 
has a disciple, who is justly entitled to the appella- 
tion of a " Virginia gentleman." Affable, courte- 
ous, of polished manners, despising the tittle tattle 
and petty slang, for which Clarksburg is noted, he 
is certainly an exception to those with whom, 
from our official position, we were obliged to come 
in contact. He has, however, but little energy, a 
trait with which but few of the citizens are blessed ; 
for 'tis the fact that when a contract is made, and 
one of the stipulations require its performance next 
week, it means a year hence. 

The shepherd of this godly flock, is the Rev. 

Mr. , formerly Rector of the Episcopal Church 

at B , Penn., where he had a large congrega- 
tion, which 'tis said he lost, in consequence of 
his Secession proclivities. He may have been 
wronged, for he took the oath on his arrival at 
Clarksburg, and does not omit the prayer for the 
President of the United States. He is a tall, ca- 
daverous-looking man, with long, wavy black 
hair, considerably sprinkled with gray, has a full, 
sonorous voice, and his greatest recommendations 
are, that he preaches short sermons, pays short 
pastoral visits, and never interferes with the tem- 
poral affairs of his parishioners, a thing unprece- 
dented in the religious history of the town. 

Some idea can be formed as to the enterprise of 
the people, from the fact that a great deal of the 



CLARKSBUEG AND ITS NOTABLES. 49 

sidewalk was constructed from the proceeds of 
the suppers, given by the ladies for that purpose. 
When the question as to the location of the 
Capitol of the proposed new State was discussed, 
Clarksburg entered the list, but no two men could 
agree as to where the public buildings shonld be 
erected. Fifty years ago, the people had more 
enterprise than have those of the present genera- 
tion. 



60 " THE CHANCES FOR MAKING A MILLION. 



CHAPTER V. 

IMPRESSING TEAMS. 

On the retirement of General Scott from the 
command of the army, General McClellan was 
ordered to Washington, and Brigadier- General 
William S- Rosecrans, an able and accomplished 
soldier, the real hero of the war in Western Vir- 
ginia, succeeded him in the command of that 
Department. 

Proceeding to Clarksburg, he established his 
Headquarters, and commenced making prepara- 
tions for his Kanawha Valley Campaign. We 
gave him possession of part of our office, and he 
encamped on a beautiful piece of ground, just east 
of it. 

Claimants came from far and wide by hun- 
dreds, with their accounts, and presented them to 
him ; among them very many whom we had 
refused to pay. The Secessionists were not back- 
ward. Although traitors, and favoring the rebell- 
ion, they had the unblushing effrontery to ask 
remuneration, for what they said had been taken 
from them. 

A citizen of Clarksburg, claiming to be loyal, 
introduced one Lurty to the General, as his friend, 




Brigadier- General W. S. Roseorans. 



IMPRESSING TEAMS. 51 

whereupon he stated his grievances. The troops 
had taken possession of his residence at the com- 
mencement of the war, and converted it into a 
hospital, destroyed his fences, appropriated his 
corn, and materially damaged the whole property. 
He desired the damages assessed, and wished to 
know to whom he should apply. The General was 
not aware that he was a violent Secessionist, and 
had two sons in the rebel army. Turning to us, he 
said, " Captain Leib will attend to it." We knew 
Lurty had received no written orders to act in 
the matter, and as we were opposed to giving aid 
and comfort to the enemy, could never find time 
to attend to his case. He wrote to the Gen- 
eral on the subject, the matter was referred to us, 
and our reply settled the affair definitely. 

During the stay of the General, the town was 
filled with friends and relatives of soldiers, many 
of whom insisted upon being sent, at the public 
expense, to the regiments they desired to visit. 
Failing in this, they did not hesitate to express 
very unfavorable opinions of the Quartermaster ; 
while some newspaper reporters took great pleas- 
ure in abusing us, roundly criticising our official 
conduct upon the representations of our ene- 
mies. 

The bad condition of our horses was an endless 
theme for them. They did not know, nor was it 
our business to inform them, that we were daily 
exchanging good horses for those worn down in 



62 THE CHANCES FOR MAKING A MILLION. 

the mountains, because the interests of the service 
was thereby subserved. 

Having matured his plans, and perfected his 
arrangements, the General moved toward Gauley 
Bridge on the 31st of August. We were strongly 
attached to him, and expressed a wish to accom- 
pany his column, but were told, " Captain, there is 
work for you here ; hard work ; and your place 
can not be filled." We felt the compliment, but 
deplored the necessity that compelled us to 
remain. 

We hurried forward supplies as he continued to 
advance. When the column reached Cross Lanes, 
Captain John G. Chandler, Chief Quartermaster 
in the field, telegraphed us to send, in addition to 
the daily supply of rations, sixty-five thousand 
extra, per week, until further orders. All our 
teams were on the road ; on reaching Weston, on 
their return, they were again loaded by Captain 
H. C. Ransom, and returned to Headquarters. 

There was but one thing for us to do : to impress 
citizen's teams into the service. Those who had 
been hauling for the Government positively refused 
to transport stores through a country where there 
was the least danger ; though anxious to be em- 
ployed to haul to Weston. 

About the same time an order came to send to 
the column of General Reynolds, at Cheat Moun- 
tain, a large amount of Quartermaster and Com- 
missary stores. He had with him the Seventh, 



IMPRESSING TEAMS. 53 

Kinth, Fourteenth, Fifteenth, and Seventeenth 
Indiana; the Third, Sixth, Twenty-fourth, Twenty- 
fifth, and Thirty-second Ohio ; the Second, and part 
of the Third Virginia regiments ; Captain Albion 
P. Howe's battery, Loomis's Michigan and Daum's 
Virginia Artillery, and three companies of cavalry 
— ^Bracken's, company A, of Ohio, and Washing- 
ton Cavalry, of Pennsylvania. 

"We were daily in the receipt of telegrams, such 
as we publish below : 

Huttonville, Sept. 19, 1861. 
Capt. Leib, Clarksburg : 

Are you sending Beverly anything for us, or do 
you intend us to fight on empty stomachs. 

J. J. REYITOLDS, 

Brigadier General. 
We replied: 

Clarksburg, Sept. 19, 1861. 
Brig. Gen. J. J. Reynolds, 

HUTTONVILLE, Va. 

I sent, on Monday, twelve thousand (12,000) 
rations to Beverly. I am doing the best I can. My 
transportation has all been sent to Headquarters, 
and I am pressing teams. Be assured I will not 
let old Hoosier sufier. 

CHAS. LEIB, 

Capt. and A. Q. M. 

The demands of both cohimns were urgent. At 
once we sent men into the country to hire teams, 



54 THE CHANCES FOR MAKING A MILLION. 

and directed them if the farmers would not hire, 
to bring them any how. 

When it became known we had directed their 
impressment the utmost excitement prevailed. 
Some men swore they would not, nor should their 
teams go. Our orders were imperative, and they 
always came. It became necessary in some instan- 
ces to send a file of soldiers to bring in these stub- 
born '' old Virginia Gentlemen," who felt their 
dignity insulted when informed, upon their refu- 
sal to hire, that their teams must go. 

The Secessionists swore " like the army in Flan- 
ders," at the idea of working for the " d — d Lin- 
coln government," while there were instances in 
which men tied their horses in the woods ; and we 
know of one case in which one of them cut up a 
wagon- wheel, so determined was he upon that 
point. But he went ; as we furnished a wagon- 
wheel for the trip. 

Many were the fierce attacks made upon us, for 
having dared insist upon their teams going. It 
was no uncommon thing for some old Virginia 
gentleman to call upon us, and demand to know 
by what authority we had directed his team to be 
pressed. Scenes like the following would fre- 
quently take place : 

" I want to see Captain Leib." 

" I am he, sir." 

*^ Well, Captain Leib, your men have pressed 
my team. It can't go." 




"Your Men have Pressed my Team. It can't go."— P. 64. 



IMPRESSING TEAMS. 55 

" What is your name, sir ? " 

" My name is ." 

" Where do you live ? " 

" Up on Elk Creek." 

" Are you a Union man ? " 

" Yes ; one of the best in the country. I have 
done all the hauling I can for the Government, 
but this pressing Union men's teams is going to 
have a bad effect upon the cause." 

" All I have to say, is, should Jeff. Davis and 
his army get in here, they would take your horses 
and wagons, strip your farm of everything, may- 
hap set fire to your residence, and not pay you 
one cent ; while I will pay you for their use. Our 
troops have come here, from across the Ohio, to 
protect you — something you should be doing your- 
self. You know we have two armies in the field ; 
one at Cheat Mountain, and one at Gauley Bridge. 
I am required to supply them ; they want bread, 
and must have it. I am sorry to disoblige you ; 
but your team must go." 

"But, Captain." 

"I have no time to discuss this matter. It is 
settled." 

" It is mighty hard if a man can't do as he pleases 
with his own property." 

" Good morning, sir." And we bowed him out. 

Of the three hundred men whose teams we were 
compelled to impress, there was not one who did 



56 THE CHANCES FOR MAKING A MILLION. 

not ciirse us during the time tlie impressment con- 
tinued. 

General Eosecrans advanced toward Gauley 
Bridge, and the teams were obliged to follow. 
The weather was very unfavorable, raining almost 
incessantly ; the roads were cut up, and almost 
impassable ; the country became more and more 
hilly, forage became scarce, and the private team- 
sters consoled themselves with the thought that 
they would soon return, and that neither the order 
of Captain Leib, nor the bayonets of the troops, 
could compel them to another such a trip. 

Arrived at Gauley, they were obliged to remain 
for some time, as there was no transportation there, 
save the trains belonging to us, and they had gone 
forward with the column. 

Stores were sent up the Kanawha by the steam- 
boat load, and had to be transported to the difier- 
ent points above steamboat navigation, where they 
were required. 

An officer, who was there, declared it was laugh- 
able to hear the impressed men, when seated round 
their camp-fires, curse the Gauley country, moan 
at being kept so long from their families, and come 
to the sage conclusion that the Quartermaster at 
Clarksburg was a great rascal for sending them so 
far from home, when he said Cross Lanes was their 
destination. They were certain we knew they were 
to be kept there. 



IMPRESSINa TEAMS. 57 

Among those who appeared to take a deep inter- 
est in our success in obtaining teams, was an old 
fellow who was familiarly known as " Shade Hurst.'* 
He took great pleasure in informing our agents 
who of his neighbors had fine horses and wagons, 
and would chuckle when, much against their will, 
they were taken to town. 

Shade was playing a strong game. He had 
plenty of good teams, and was endeavoring to 
make fair weather with the agents of the Gov- 
ernment, so that he would not be called upon for 
them. Besides, Shade was a quarrelsome man, 
and was always at law with some of his neigh- 
bors, most of whom he owed a grudge which he 
was thus endeavoring to pay. 

But murder will out. It came to the knowledge 
of Colonel Runnion, our Chief of Transportation, 
that Shade was in a position to do the Government 
some service, although he bitterly denied it. The 
Colonel informed him that we desired him at our 
office, and he came. 

'^ Mr. Hurst," said we, " you have good horses 
and wagons — the Government wants to hire them." 

" You are mistaken. Captain ; I haven't got 
any." 

" Your neighbors say you have, and I want them 
to go to Gauley." 

"Maybe, my neighbors know what I've got 
better than I do." 



68 THE CHANCES FOR MAKING A MILLION. 

"I guess not, Mr. Hurst; I am satisfied they 
have not misrepresented you." 

" My son has teams, but I have none." 

" We will not discuss that matter. You have 
them, and I want them. You will remain here 
until you send an order for the teams. Colonel 
Runnion, please order Mr. Hurst's stallion put 
into the stable. On second thought, I will have 
him hitched in a two-wheeled ambulance, and ride 
a few miles into the country, while Mr. Hurst 
decides whether he will write the order for his 
teams." 

If there was one thing on earth more than an- 
other Shade loved, it was his stallion, and he 
almost cried as he said, " For God's sake, Captain, 
do n't hitch up my stallion ; I 'd rather you 'd 
take my wife ; I '11 bring you all the teams you 
want." 

" Very well, you can go ; but I '11 expect you here 
by to-morrow evening, with one at least. If you 
don 't come, I '11 order a file of men to go for it." 

At seven o'clock the next morning, he was at 
our office, ready to go to work ; was sent to the 
mountains, and did not return for more than a 
month. 

Those employed in the Cheat Mountain line 
fared better. Whenever a train would return, a 
dozen would slip home and remain for a few days. 
The utmost vigilance was required to keep their 



IMPRESSING TEAMS. 59 

accounts correctly, for they would claim pay for 
the time thus absent. When finally discharged, 
they hung around our ofiice like so many cormo- 
rants, and insisted on being paid, although they 
knew we had not a dollar at that time. After 
some time we received a treasury draft for seventy- 
one thousand dollars, and a check for ten thousand. 
The whole country at once learned the fact, and 
the men came in droves to receive their pay. Like 
a swarm of bees, they congregated about the office 
door, reminding one very much of a scene about 
the polls on election day in the city of I^ew York, 
when a line was not formed, and every man was 
struggling to vote first. 

The process of payment was necessarily slow. 
Each account had to be critically examined, and 
duplicate receipts given upon the pay-roll. When 
night came, we had disbursed six thousand dollars, 
and the crowd dispersed, grumbling and dissatis- 
fied, that they had not all received what was due 
them. Until every dollar was paid, the rush con- 
tinued. Men who growled, grumbled, and de- 
nounced us, and who would offer the clerks and 
messenger money to " get in next," would declare 
the instant they were paid, the Quartermaster was 
a clever fellow after all. Most of these men real- 
ized more in two months from the impressment 
of their teams by the Government, than it was 
possible for them to make by a year's labor, out 



60 THE CHANCES FOR MAKING A MILLION. 

of their dilapidated looking, unproductive, half- 
cultivated farms. According to the account of 
some of those who were paid at Gauley Bridge, 
they had not been paid in full. They applied to 
us to make up the deficiency, and declining to do 
so, we were of course handsomely abused. A few 
acknowledged they had been overpaid, but did not 
propose to refund the overplus to us, nor to the 
Quartermaster there. About the middle of Octo- 
ber, a telegram was received from Camp Scott 
which afibrded us infinite pleasure : 

Capt. Leib, a. Q. M., Clarksburg. 

General Rosecrans has concluded to commence 
the transportation of supplies for this column by 
way of the Kanawha. By this, we shall save 
some thirty-five miles land transportation, which 
is important for many reasons. I shall give you 
notice of the change ; do nothing until you hear 
further, and send on as usual. 

J. a. CHAIS'DLEE, 
Assistant Quartermaster. 

In a few days, the order came from the Captain, 
and with it a notice that he was obliged to take 
some of our trains. 

With so much rapidity had supplies been sent 
to General Reynolds by Captain Ransom, Assistant 
Quartermaster at Grafton, and ourself, that by the 
time winter set in, he had almost enough to last 
until the roads became passable in the spring. 



IMPRESSING TEAMS. 61 

During December and January, we were over- 
run with applications for hauling, by the men 
whose teams we had impressed, all of them declar- 
ing they wanted to do all they could for the Gov- 
ernment. It was a profitable business, and they 
were ofiended because their wishes could not be 
consulted. " Sich is life." 



62 THE CHANCES FOR MAKING A MILLION. 



CHAPTER VI. 

AN INDieNATION MEETING. 

During the third quarter of 1861, the number 
of employees connected with our post, in the capa- 
city of clerks, mechanics, laborers, wagonmasters, 
and teamsters, was nearly seven hundred. The 
teamsters were mostly rowdies and wharf rats 
from the Ohio river cities, who were too cowardly 
to enlist, too lazy to labor, and came to Virginia 
with the expectation of having a good time, and 
plundering " Secesh " property. IN'othing but the 
absolute necessities of the service induced us to 
keep them, although sent by the agents of rank- 
ing officers. We incurred the displeasure of a 
brother officer by sending away twenty-six fellows 
who were worthless and unfit for any service. 
Very few were familiar with horses, and did not 
even know how to harness them. 

For some time, there had not been a dollar of 
money either in the Department or at our post. 
The employees became uneasy, distrustful, and 
dissatisfied. They feared for their pay, while 
crowds of claimants were daily besieging us to have 
a time fixed when their claims could be settled. 



AN INDIGNATION MEETING. 63 

A set of sharpers and sharks from Pennsylva- 
nia, headed by a fellow named Hogg, who had 
furnished horses for two companies of cavalry, 
although knowing we had no money, hung around 
like so many horse-leeches, crying give, give, give ! 
Hogg bullied every person in his section of coun- 
try, and tried to bully us, but failed. He an- 
nounced that he would make Captain Leib pay 
his claim at once, and came to our office for that 
purpose. 

" Captain, I have a large claim against you, and 
it must be paid." 

" Who are you, sir ? " 

" My name is Hogg : George E. Hogg." 

" Oh ! yes ; you 're of the firm of Hogg and 
Brading." 

" Yes, I am. I Ve waited since last June for 
the money, and now I mean to have it." 

"You shall be paid as soon as I receive the 
money." 

"When will that be?" 

" As soon as I get it." 

" Well, one thing is certain, I shan 't leave here 
until I get my money." 

" That 's a good idea, Mr. Hogg. Clarksburg is 
a good place to stay, and boarding is cheap." 

" One thing is certain, if I don 't get my pay 
soon, I '11 telegraph General Rosecrans. I don 't 
intend to be fooled any longer. 

" I would do so, if I were in your place. I 've 



64 THE CHANCES FOR MAKING A MILLION. 

no doubt the General will be delighted to hear 
from you." 

" What do you mean, sir ? " 

" Just what I say." 

"Well, I want my money, and won 't leave 
without it, that 's certain. It seems strange you 
can't pay so small an amount." 

" Mr. Hogg, I have already said you shall be 
paid as soon as I get money. If you think you 
can bully me, you are mistaken in the man. I 'm 
very busy this morning ; good day, sir." 

Mr. Hogg waited for some time, but finally left, 
declaring he never wanted to go to Clarksburg as 
long as Captain Leib was Quartermaster. The 
men murmured, and it was insinuated that we had 
money but would not pay them. Strong men, to 
whom the Government was justly indebted, would 
come to our office weeping, and beg for God's sake 
to give them money, their families had nothing to 
eat, and they were ragged or nearly so. We sym- 
pathized with but could not assist them. Captain 
John List, of Wheeling, happening at Clarksburg, 
learned the peculiar position in which we were 
placed, and generously offered to loan us all the 
money required. After consulting General E-ose- 
crans, who knew our wants, we borrowed sixty- 
five hundred dollars, giving our note therefor, 
which was indorsed by the General. The money 
was disbursed, and we received three thous- 
and dollars more from Captain List, and other 



AN INDIGNATION MEETING. 65 

smaller sums from personal friends in the town. 
Most of the money was of the Wheeling banks, 
which was at that time at a discount, but those to 
whom it was paid disposed of it at par. Humanity 
dictated this course, and all we received for sup- 
plying their pressing wants was abuse from men 
with whom we never had any business, and did 
not know, and claimants whom we could not pay. 
The newspapers charged that we were speculating 
with Government funds, exchanging gold and 
silver for uncurrent paper money, thereby swind- 
ling the Government employees. It was a matter 
of no importance to us. The department at Wash- 
ington knew we had not a dollar of Government 
money. The commanding General knew the facts, 
and we would not answer to the community so 
contemptible a charge. It was discussed at the 
corners of the streets, in bar-rooms, and in stores, 
where loafers were in the habit of congregating. 
"While the excitement was at its greatest height, 
Hon. John S. Carlile, United States Senator, vis- 
ited Clarksburg, his former residence, but now a 
citizen of Wheeling. He was the master spirit of 
the Union movement in Western Virginia. The 
evening of his arrival he was serenaded, and 
responded in a speech of some length, in reply to 
the call of a large number of people who had 
assembled in front of the residence of the gentle- 
man whose guest he was. We were attracted 
thither by the sound of the music, and to our sur- 
6 



66 THE CHANCES FOR MAKING A MILLION. 

prize the Senator attacked without naming us; 
advised the people, if they had grievances, to hold 
a public meeting, state them, and " expose unfaith- 
ful public servants." 

The speech gave great satisfaction, and the fol- 
lowing day strenuous efforts were made to get up 
an indignation meeting, but it failed. 

The next night, the few who took an active part 
in the matter, induced a large number of persons 
to assemble at the Court House, who, after effect- 
ing an organization, passed a preamble and reso- 
lutions ; but the proceedings were not published, 
as the president and secretary refused to sign them. 
The gist of one resolution was, as we were informed 
by parties present at the meeting, that the treat- 
ment of the people by the Quartermaster, and 
his refusal to purchase oats, corn, and hay, would, 
they feared, have the effect to weaken the Union 
sentiment of Harrison county. 

From the hour we took charge until relieved 
from duty, we could not find time, during business 
hours to discuss crops, weather, the war, and the 
probability of a speedy settlement of the difficul- 
ties — some, or all of which, for the first three 
months, many persons expected us to do. They 
were in the habit of doing so in the office of the 
County Clerk, and in the shops and stores of the 
town, and could not understand, why they should 
not do the same thing in the Quartermaster's office ; 
or why, when we had answered their questions, 



AN INDIGNATION MEETING. 67 

and they continaed to hang round, making inqui- 
ries having no relation to business, we should 
ask them : 

" Have you any other business with me ? " 

" ISTo, sir." 

" You'll excuse me, then ; Fm very busy. Good 
morning, sir," and bow them out. 

To the indignation meeting we paid no atten- 
tion ; and when the facts which led to it became 
known, the men who were active in getting it up, 
did not hesitate to say, that they had been misled 
and misinformed, and had done us gross injustice. 
At a subsequent period. Senator Carlile visited 
Clarksburg, acknowledged to us he had been mis- 
taken, and urged us not to ask to be relieved from 
duty there. He sent the following telegram to the 
Secretary of War, we adding an appendix : 

Clarksburg, October 26, 1861 

Hon. Simon Cameron, Sec'y of War, 
Washington. 

Will write you fully on my return to Wheeling. 
Perhaps it would be well to make no change here, 
until you have seen what I will write. 

JOHIsr S. CARLILE. 

Senator Carlile requests me to send this tele- 
gram. He is anxious I should remain here, and is 



68 THE CHANCES FOR MAKING A MILLION. 

satisfied great injustice has been done me. I do 
not desire to remain where I have been so grossly 
slandered. I expect every day to be relieved. 

CHAS. LEIB, 

Captain and Assistant Quartermaster, 

Upon his return to Wheeling he wrote the Sec- 
retary, protesting against our relief; it never came. 

The scenes which transpire in the Quartermas- 
ter's office are at times exceedingly ludicrous. We 
will give a few from our own experience. 

Enter, a farmer, arrayed in all the glory of cop- 
per colored jeans, with one leg of his pantaloons 
in the top of his boot, an old white slouched hat 
stuck on the back of his head, hands in his pock- 
ets, an immense quid of tobacco between his jaws, 
with the juice running from the corners of his 
mouth. 

"Is Captain Leib about? " 

" Yes, sir. Fm he." 

"Well, Captain, I've got a bill agin the Qover- 
ment, I want you to settle." 

" What is it for." 

" Why, a lot of things the solgers tuck, when 
General Rosemycrans went to the Gauly Bridge." 

" Let me look at it ? " 

We give the bill verbatim : 



AN INDIGNATION MEETINQ. 69 

Captain Libe, United States, 

To Enock Sbees, dr 

tu 17 turkes tuck by solgers 20 00 

ditto 81 chicens 5 00 

ditto 1 caf kild 6 00 

ditto 2 piggs 16 00 

46 00 

" I can't pay that bill. I have nothing to do 
with subsistence. If it had been for hay or oats, 
and I were satisfied the articles had been furnished, 
I might pay for them." 

"I've got a bill for a stack of hay, but I thought 
I would like to get this money fust." 

" You must go to Lieutenant Allen, the Com- 
missary. He may pay it, but I think it doubtful." 

" I were at Mr. Allen's office, and axed for him, 
but they said he were gone to Cincinnatti on a 
tower, and I thought I'd make out the bill to you." 

"I'm sorry, but I can't pay you. Are you a 
Union man." 

" Yes, I am ; and there ai'nt many of us neither, 
where I live. 

"Where is that?" 

" Out in the neighborhood of Braxton. Look 
here. Cap, if you'll just pay this bill I'll give you 
two dollars and a half." 

" Do you want to insult me ? " 

" ^o : 1 only want to give you two dollars and a 
half, if you'll pay my bill." 

" I can not pay it." 



70 THE CHANCES FOR MAKING A MILLION. 

"All Fve got to say, if that's the way you're 
going to do, I sha'nt be a Union man any more." 

" Good morning, sir." 

Like many more, his loyalty depended upon 
what he could make out of the Government. 

Our messenger, one day, brought us a card, upon 
which was handsomely engraved, 



« Col. ," 

and said " the gentleman wishes to see you, if you 
are disengaged." 

" Show him in." 

He presented a letter of introduction from an 
officer, who recommended him as a man of posi- 
tion and character, who had something to commu- 
nicate of interest to the service. 

" Be seated, sir," 

He took a seat; after conversing on ordinary 
topics a few moments, remarked, ^^You have a 
fine warehouse and magnificent stables, Captain." 

"Yes, sir." 

" How many horses and mules have you now ? " 

" About seventeen hundred." 

" You must use a great deal of forage." 

"I do." 

" Where do you get it from ? " 

" Most of it from Capt. Craig, at Parkersburg, 
though I purchase considerable here." 

" I have been furnishing some of the Quarter- 



AN INDIGNATION MEETING. Tl 

masters, and learning you used a great deal, thought 
I ^d come here, and see if I could not get a con- 
tract, to furnish you ; I think I can make a satis- 
factory arrangement.'' 

" What kind of an arrangement ? " 

" Of course, this is confidential." 

" Certainly." 

" I will divide the profits with you." 

" Will you ; how much can he made ? " 

" It depends on the amount of forage you pur- 
chase. If you will permit me to furnish all you 
want, we can make a good thing of it." 

" Colonel , I am here to protect the inter- 
ests of the Government and not to swindle it. 
You can 't have a contract from me for anything. 
The sooner you leave my ofiice the hetter I will 
be pleased." 

" But, Captain." 

" Good morning ; I have no time to talk to you." 

He left, and we have not seen him since. At 
home, he is said to he a respectable citizen, and 
stands high as a man of business. JSTo doubt he is 
ready at any moment to get up an indignation 
meeting against us. 

Here is a lady, with a note from Governor Den- 
nison, of Ohio, who states that she has two sons 
in the army, whom she is desirous of visiting, and 
requests us to furnish her transportation. 

" Where are your sons, madam ? " 



72 THE CHANCES FOR MAKING A MILLION. 

" They 're with General McClellan ; they 're the 
only two boys I 've got, and when the war broke 
out I told 'em to 'list and do their duty ; but I 
couldn 't stand it any longer, not to see them ; so 
I told the old man he must take care of the child- 
ren, and I went to Columbus, and got this letter 
from the Govenor. He 's a mighty nice man." 

" How old are your sons, madam ? " 

" One 's twenty-one, and the other is jest nine- 
teen." 

" I am sorry, madam, but I can not give you 
transportation." 

" Can 't you send me up in a wagon ? The Gov- 
enor said he guessed you would." 

" 1^0, madam, I am prohibited from doing so ; 
besides, women are not permitted to follow the 
army." * 

" I don 't care whether the General likes it or 
not, I 'm bound to see my boys, and I know they 
want to see their mammy." 

" If you are determined to go, you had better 
take the stage." 

" I haven't got money enough to get home if I 
do, but I 'm going, if I have to walk." 

We admired the patriotic devotion that induced 
her to urge her sons to volunteer, and yet more the 
filial affection which would induce her to walk 
twenty-eight miles, over the mountains, in an ene- 
my's country, to visit them, and gave her three 
doUara to pay her stage fare. The same day, 



AN INDIGNATION MEETING. 73 

a supply train left for Buckhannon, and telling 
the Wagonmaster her story, he permitted her to 
ride. When the train reached its destination, we 
were telegraphed by the Chief Quartermaster, to 
permit no more women to come up on Govern- 
ment trains, as they were not wanted. Although 
the Wagonmaster had violated our orders in per- 
mitting her to ride, we could not discharge him. 



74 THE CHANCES FOR MAKING A MILLION. 



CHAPTER VII. 

TRIALS OF THE QUARTERMASTER. 

Who wouldn't be a Quartermaster ? said a friend, 
seated, one morning, for an hour in our office, 
watching the continual stream of persons coming 
in and going out, asking five hundred questions 
upon as many different subjects, and finding fault 
because they could not be gratified in every partic- 
ular. 

One would not work longer unless his wages 
were raised ; another called to say, he could not 
haul us any more hay until we would have a broken 
bridge repaired ; this man has lost his dog — our 
Chief Carpenter has taken him up, and he wants 
an order for his delivery ; that one desires to bor- 
row a pair of horses and a wagon, to haul coal for 
a few days ; a young lady is anxious to visit her 
friends in the country, and is sure the Captain will 
loan her a horse, he has so many ; a field officer 
wants to " draw a horse," and is indignant because 
we inform him that officers must furnish their 
own, and swears the regulations allow him three ; 
a Quartermaster desires to turn over a lot of bro- 
ken-down, worn out, worthless horses, which, three 



TRIALS OF THE QUARTERMASTER. ^^ 

months ago, he receipted to us for in good condi- 
tion, and wants us to return his receipts, and take 
the horses ; a farmer insists on borrowing " a gun" 
until the war is over — he is a good Union man, 

and Mr. G will indorse him, which to ud id 

no recommendation. 

Mr. Gr , in our eyes, occupies an unenvia- 
ble position. Bland, smooth, always ready to do a 
favor if he can thereby make ten per cent. ; he is 
one of the Union leaders, who, at the commence- 
ment of the war, opposed taking ground for either 
party, fearing his property might be confiscated. 
He always has a few claims to collect, for which, 
of course, he charges nothing ; and his position is 
such, that his property, which is his God, is safe, 
it matters not which party succeeds. 

Here we have a man who has an account against 
one of our teamsters. 

" Captain, I have an account against one of your 
teamsters for thirty dollars.'' 

" Why don't you collect it ? " 

" Because he says you havn't paid him for two 
months." 

" He will be paid as soon as I receive the 
money." 

" I have been trying for six months to get this 
bill paid, but he always has some excuse. If you'll 
take the account and hold back the thirty dollars, 
I'll give you ten per cent." 



76 THE CHANCES l^OR MAKING A MILLION. 

" I have 110 right to do so, and if I had, would 
not ; I 'm not a shaver." 

" But, Captain, if you would tell him that I'm a 
particular friend of yours, and tell him he must 
pay the bill, he would do it. Til take some every 
month." 

" I can not do so. Tm an agent of the Govern- 
ment, and not for private individuals." 

" But you might do this for me. I have always 
been your friend, and stood up for you when you 
were abused." 

" Tm obliged to you for that ; but I have no 
friends so far as duty is concerned." 

" Well, if you won't do it, you and I are two. 
ril sue him, and garnishee you." 

" I have no objections ; but Til not recognize 
the garnishee." 

" If that's the way Union men are to be treated 
by the Government, I say d — n the Government." 

" Leave my office, or I'll send you to the guard- 
house." 

He left, and was ever after our bitter enemy. 

It frequently happened that regiments, when on 
the march, were compelled to abandon horses worn 
down, and unable to proceed further. The people 
along the roads were always on the alert to pick 
up such horses ; but were never anxious to return 
them to the Government. 

The IT. S. branded upon the fore shoulder always 



TRIALS OF A QUARTERMASTER. 77 

betrayed them, and horses were frequently recov- 
ered. 

Every wagonmaster and teamster in onr employ, 
was directed to inquire for abandoned Government 
property ; and the result was, we " took up " a 
large amount. 

Whenever a person, having such property, would 
report the facts to us, he was remunerated for his 
trouble and care ; but when an attempt was made 
to keep it from our knowledge, we would take it 
and pay nothing. Such cases were of frequent 
occurrence, and did not tend to increase our popu- 
larity. 

One Adams, residing on Hacker's Creek, where 
a number of Secessionists were in the habit of 
meeting, took a horse, with the intention, doubt- 
less, of keeping him. He knew the horse be- 
longed to the Government ; but, like many others, 
wanted to make all he could out of the war. 

Learning the fact, we sent a wagonmaster for 
the horse, and Adams finding himself caught, de- 
livered him up, but was importunate for remuner- 
ation for his keeping. 

It was one of the cases which came under the 
rule of the law, with reference to appropriating 
property belonging to others, and no attention was 
paid to his letters. 

Finally, a clerk in the Department, received the 
following note : 



78 the chances for making a million. 

Mr. Steel : 

Sir — Being acquainted with you, and also a rela- 
tive by marriage with your first wife, I ask it as a 
favor, if you will assist me in getting the above 
account. If the account is not made out in form, 
make one out that is, and send it to me, and I will 
prove the account if it is necessary. My reason 
for asking you to help me in this matter is, I am, 
or used to be, personally acquainted with you, etc. 
If I am not mistaken, you married Eunice Carder, 
and I married Edith Earle. Perhaps you will 
recollect me, and render me all the assistance you 
can, because we are relations. 

Your friend, 

J. W. ADAMS. 
February 5, 1862. 

Notwithstanding this touching appeal, Adams 
never received pay. 

The latter part of June, one West, of Western 
Pennsylvania, arrived at Clarksburg with a com- 
pany of cavalry. He was authorized by the 
Secretary of War, he informed us, to raise the 
company, and the horses were to be appraised, and 
paid for by the Government. General McClellan 
issued an order for their appraisement, and the 
Commandant of the Post appointed a Board for 
that purpose. Without authority for so doing, the 
Board also appraised the saddles, some of which 
were worthless, and the Commandant of the Post, 



TRIALS OF THE QUARTERMASTER. 79 

Colonel T. S. Stanley, Eighteenth Ohio, gave the 
owners of the horses certificates as to their value, 
and setting forth that they were delivered to the 
Assistant Quartermaster; which was false in fact, 
as we never, for a single moment, had them in our 
possession, and not constructively so for months 
afterward. The owners wanted their money. The 
horses were not in our possession. We had not 
the Captain's receipt for them, nor yet an order 
for their payment. 

The General commanding was appealed to, the 
order for payment given ; but the receipts were 
not forthcoming, and we refused to pay. A storm 
of indignation followed, and we found ourselves 
in the newspapers, with such representations as to 
our character, that, had we not been named, those 
who knew us most intimately, would not have 
recognized the picture. They were not paid until 
the receipts came, and when the last left Clarks- 
burg we breathed a wish that we would not again 
be tortured by having to do business with such 
a set of sharks. 



A DISPATCH FROM GOVERNOR PIERPONT. 

Wheeling, September 16, 1861. 

Captain Leib, A. Q. M. 

Colonel Ford, of Ohio, is here with a regiment, 
en route for General Reynolds. His Quartermaster 



80 THE CHANCES FOR MAKING A MILLION. 

has no money. Can you assist him. Answer 
immediately. 

F. H. PIERPOT^T. 

"We liked Tom Ford, and knew how difficult it 
would be to march through "Western Virginia 
without funds. We had not a dollar, and it was 
evident we were applied to as a dernier resort. 
The money could be raised by giving our note ; 
and forgetting that we had determined not to 
again pledge our credit, borrowed a thousand dol- 
lars and '^ turned it over " to the Quartermaster, 
and sent the Thirty-second Ohio on their way 
rejoicing. Governor Pierpont was delighted at 
the prompt manner in which we responded to his 
wishes, and sometime after ordered his pet regi- 
ment, the First Virginia Cavalry, to Clarksburg. 
The Colonel, Henry Anisansel, had been a Lieu- 
tenant in a Cavalry company in the three months' 
service, and had distinguished himself as a dashing 
officer. In Western Virginia, as in every other 
State, men were appointed to office, and especially 
in the Quartermaster's department, who are not 
capable of discharging the duties of the position. 
It was so in the case of the Quartermaster of this 
regiment, and unfortunately he had not the ability 
to learn. The Colonel appointed a second Quar- 
termaster, while the Governor commissioned a 
third. These officers were all anxious to act, and 
%yilling to receipt jfor Government property. ISTum^ 



TRIALS OF THE QUARTERMASTER. 81 

ber one was waiting the acceptance of his resigna- 
tion ; number two was in charge of the Quarter- 
master's property, and number three was trying to 
get possession of it, and had received money for 
the use of his regiment, from the Chief Quarter- 
master, as will be seen by the following, in reply 
to an inquiry made : 

Wheeling y January 14, 1862. 

Capt. C. Leib, a. Q. M. 

Bonsai's receipts are about as good as any of 
that regiment. I transferred funds to him, as he 
held a commission. 

J. a. CHANDLER, 

Cajpt. and A. Q. M. 

Like a number of other Virginia regiments, it 
was composed principally of men from Ohio and 
Pennsylvania ; but many of the officers knew not 
their duty, nor did they manifest a disposition to 
learn it; while others were capable, brave and 
chivalric. While at Clarksburg, they were well 
provided with comfortable quarters, and their 
every request granted. When ordered to E'ew 
Creek, the men went with the expectation of being 
made at least as comfortable as they then were, 
but disappointment awaited them. It was in the 
latter part of January, the weather horrible, and 
they obliged to go into camp with no stables for 



82 THE CHANCES FOR MAKING A MILLION. 

their horses. The men thought they could not 
stand it, and we were telegraphed. 

New Creek, January, 1862. 
Captain Charles Leib: 

Here I am without shelter, but ordinary tents. 
Can you find us Sibley tents, and stoves ? If you 
can not, we will give it up. 

H. AOTSAI^SEL, 
Colonel Ist Virginia Cavalry. 

ITew Creek was then out of the Department, and 
we did not send them. 

If those who are so eager to find fault with 
Quartermasters, and charge them with not doing 
their duty, could but take their places for a single 
week, or act at a post where there is a large amount 
of business transacted, even for a single day, for 
very shame they would blush at having been guilty 
of such gross injustice to a class of men, upon the 
faithful discharge of whose duties great results 
often depend. A citizen of Cincinnati, Alf. Bur- 
net, who visited Clarksburg, gave, in one of the 
papers of that city, the following account of a visit 
to Clarksburg: 

" Camp at Clarksburg , October 29, 1861. 
To THE Editor of the Daily Press : 

'' Par invitation," I have just run down to this 
eacampment to " see what I could see." Clouds of 



TRIALS OF THE QUARTERMASTER. 83 

snow lie about the sunset ; the leaves rustle by with 
the breeze. 

The camp is comparatively deserted; one 
United States battery, and a few companies, being 
all that are deemed at present essential to hold 
this point. Many are, however, near at hand, so 
that, in case of necessity, there can be thrown into 
this place thousands of men. 

Company K, Colonel Dunning's Regiment, un- 
der Captain Jackson, is still here. I noticed them 
upon drill, and they went through their evolutions 
in splendid style. The boys were in excellent spir- 
its, having just received information of General 
Kelley's success at Romney. 

A visit to the immense storehouse, erected un- 
der the superintendence of Captain Leib, for the 
safe-keeping of the army supplies, is worth a day's 
journey alone. The Captain is using his utmost 
endeavors to keep the house as empty as possible, 
by sending off to all the regiments the winter- 
apparel and quartermaster's stores. 

Charlie Leib, or Captain Leib, is a peculiar and 
almost indescribable specimen of humanity. A 
portly, robust, jolly, unassuming-looking specimen 
of a Western man, ]^o gewgaws — no red tape. 
Colonels, Majors, and Quartermasters enter fre- 
quently, and inquire : 

" Is Captain Leib here ? " 

" I am he," is the reply. 

Many, thus coming first into his presence, are 



84 THE CHANCES FOR MAKING A MILLION. 

astonished ; and Colonel Marrow told me, in giv- 
ing a description of the Captain, that he fully 
expected to meet a " very tiger," but was much 
astonished to find a thorough business man. The 
reason Leib is so defamed is this : he is constantly 
employed; having hundreds of thousands of dol- 
lars' worth of Government property to pass through 
his hands weekly. Ignorant Colonels, and Cap- 
tains, and Quartermasters arrive here, and hand 
in requisitions improperly made out. One wants 
a thousand coats, another a thousand blankets and 
shoes, or a hundred horses. 

Here's the style of talk : 

Enter a Colonel or Quartermaster. " I want a 
thousand overcoats. Have you got them ? " 

" Yes, sir : yes, sir." 

Colonel, or Quartermaster. " I also want eight 
hundred pairs of socks, and the same of shoes." 

" All right," says Leib ; " hand me your requi- 
sition." 

Here he is presented with a document of no 
earthly account ; ignorantly made out, no head nor 
tail; perhaps lacking the proper signatures. 

Leib refuses to furnish the articles without the 
proper vouchers. The consequence is, Leib is 
cursed from "■ Dan to Beersheba" by " ignorant men," 
because, forsooth, he refuses to give out articles 
until he himself is made safe in so doing. These 
men return to their regiment and curse Leib, in 
order to shift the- responsibility, when, if the truth 



TRIALS OF THE QUARTERMASTER, 85 

were told, they themselves are to blame. I will 
venture to say, and I have it from those who know 
him well, that he never yet has refused to fill a 
requisition that was properly made out, and he 
had the articles. 

I paid a visit to the "yard," where there are 
now, in splendid order, seventeen hundred horses 
and mules. These are under the Captain's care. 

The yards are kept very clean, and the ani- 
mals are now luxuriating upon oats and corn — a 
sight that will not greet their eyes long after they 
leave his supervision. 

Colonel Desparde's residence — a beautiful pa- 
latial homestead — is situated directly opposite this 
Aostile place. The Colonel don't like the ani- 
micles being in such close quarters ; but Uncle Sam 
is heedless of such peculiarities of individuals, and 
Colonel Desparde is submissive, having a short 
time since been accused of Secession proclivities." 

THE SNAKE HUNTERS. 

"When General McClellan first moved to "West- 
ern Virginia, he authorized one John Baggs, of 
Belmont County, Ohio, who claimed to be familiar 
with every cow-path and hunter's trail in the de- 
partment, to raise a company of forty men, to act 
as scouts. This he soon succeeded in doing, and 
his company was composed of as brave, yet 
uncouth and ragged, set of men as were ever mus- 



86 THE CHANCES FOR MAKING A MILLION. 

tered into the service of Uncle Sam. When BaggB 
first made his appearance in "Western Virginia, 
his dress would have done honor to Bloody 
IN'athan, in Mck of the Woods, but soon his 
whole appearance was changed. His company 
dubbed themselves the " Snake Hunters," and 
never either gave or asked quarters of the bush- 
whackers. They were known far and wide as 
" Baggs' thieves." The Captain and his men were 
devoted to each other, and woe to him who incurred 
their displeasure. Their name was a terror to 
Secessionists, and many were the desperate efforts 
made to entrap them, but with no success. One 
sultry day in July, a tall, rough-looking, ill-dressed 
personage, having the appearance of a foot-pad, 
came stalking into our ofB.ce, and walking up to 
our desk, said : 

" Captain Leib, I want two wagons and horses 
for my company." 

" Your company ? Who are you ? " 

" I am Captain Baggs." 

" '\¥ho is Captain Baggs ? " 

" He is Captain of Baggs' independent scouts — 
the Snake Hunters. Our principal business is to 
hunt up and run down the Secession varmints, 
who are shooting down Union men whenever they 
get a chance." 

" You may be a good man. Captain Baggs, but 
you're a hard-looking customer. If you're the 
captain, I would like to see your privates." 



TRIALS OP THE QUARTERMASTER. 87 

" The boys do look pretty hard, but you^d look 
hard, too, if you'd been living on huckleberries 
and birch-bark for a month, and had to crawl on 
your belly to save your life, as my Snake Hunters 
had to do." 

" Have you been doing that?" 

"I haven't been doing nothing else. WeVe 
been where gilt-edged soldiers daren't go, no thanks 
to red tape and shoulder-straps. Captain Leib, I 
think you are a darned sensible man, to go with- 
out brass buttons. They would spile the oldest 
hand in the business." 

" You are a plain-spoken man, Captain Baggs." 

" So every body says. But look here, Cap, I 
want them teams." 

" Well, sir, you can't have them." 

" I don't care a cuss whether I get them or not. 
My men can do without them, as they have been 
doing ever since this war began. I'm for the Gov- 
ernment, barefooted or shod." 

" Are you a commissioned officer ? " 

" Of course, I am." 

" If you had the proper papers, you could get the 
wagons and horses : as it is, you can not have them." 

" Why, damn your buttons, I've got the papers 
straight from Gineral McClellan. Here they are." 

" All right. You can get the teams." 

" ^N'o wonder. Cap., you were shy of me. I know 
I look like the devil, but I haven't been to the 
tailor-shop for some time." 



88 THE CHANCES FOR MAKING A MILLION. 

Having got his teams, the Captain left, swear- 
ing we were a bully Quartermaster. 

Just before going into the fight at Cross Lanes, 
he addressed his men as follows : 

" Snake Hunters ! there's going to be a fight. 
Go in, you thieves ! You have no characters to 
lose or win. If you don't kill some of the Secesh, 
you ought to be killed. You have no characters 
at home, and if you're killed it would be no sacri- 
fice, and nobody will cry after you. You and I 
both have come here to hold up the Government, 
and without it we're nothing. Whisky and the 
Government is our pride. Every body says you 
are thieves. It may be true, but we defy a lady to 
say we ever insulted her. We're the oldest com- 
pany in the three year service in Western Virginia. 
Who first came to the rescue of the loyal people 
of ITichols, Braxton, and Greenbrier ? Why, Cap- 
tain John Baggs and his Snake Hunters — who 
never stole nothing from nobody. Your lives are 
worth more to you than to anybody else. When 
I give the word, pitch in with a yell. We'll all 
take a drink ! " 



ARREST OF THE *' SEOESH/' 89 



CHAPTER VIII. 

ARREST OF THE "SECESH." 

The Union men of Western Virginia are vin- 
dictive and unforgiving. Without being able to 
assign a reason for so doing, and without thought, 
hundreds of men declared for Secession, left their 
homes at the approach of the Federal troops, be- 
lieving that their triumph would be followed by 
the immediate execution of every man who had 
voted for the ordinance of Secession. In the 
mountain counties, where the people are almost 
wholly uneducated, the leaders so excited their 
fears, that they fled at the approach of our sol- 
diery as though fleeing from death. When they 
found they had been deceived, very many desired 
to return, and expressed a willingness to take the 
oath of allegiance, and to support the Government 
in good faith. This met with determined opposi- 
tion from Union men, who too often gratified their 
private piques by causing the arrest of their neigh- 
bors, who upon examination were frequently dis- 
charged, the evidence against them being insuffi- 
cient to warrant their detention. Men who, before 
the rebellion, had no position, socially or politi- 
cally, suddenly loomed into importance, arrogated 
8 



90 THE CHANCES FOR MAKING A MILLION. 

to themselves leadership in the Union movement, 
for which they were not fitted by nature or educa- 
tion, and claimed to he exponents of the Union 
sentiment. Pot-house politicians aspired to prom- 
inent positions, and their ambition was frequently 
gratified for want of better material. The policy 
inaugurated by General McClellan, and adopted 
by General Rosecrans when he assumed command, 
of not interfering with or molesting persons who 
did not take up arms against the Government, or 
give " aid and comfort to the enemy," met their 
unqualified condemnation, and they appeared de- 
termined no man who ever entertained a Secession 
thought should repent his error. We have a case 
in point. E. W. Patton was a leading man in 
Harrison County. Although possessing little edu- 
cation, he is blessed with strong common sense, 
and is, we are informed, a devoted friend and a 
good hater. A politician, he possessed the confi- 
dence of his party, and was a favorite leader. In 
an evil hour he embraced the odious doctrine of 
Secession, and proclaimed it from the stump. 
When the troops arrived at Clarksburg, many of 
his friends were arrested. Patton residing at Mil- 
ford, a few miles distant, being informed he was a 
" marked man," left home, and proceeded to the 
Greenbriar country, with the intention, as he de- 
clared, of returning as soon as the excitement was 
allayed. Shortly after, the battles of Laurel Hill 
and Rich Mountain were fought, and he was pre- 



ARREST OF THE " SECESH." 91 

vented from doing so. After several months, he 
wrote to his relative, Hon. Charles S. Lewis, ex- 
Member of Congress, who submitted us the letter, 
and desired to know if we thought the military 
authorities would permit him to return, were he to 
take the oath of allegiance. We could not answer 
the question, but remarked, if he was not sincere 
he would be a dangerous man. We are permitted 
to give the following extract from the letter : 

" Since the beginning of hostilities, I have occu- 
pied a strictly neutral position, never having aided 
either party, in any shape or form. I have been, 
as before stated, in the Southern States ever since 
I left home, but the reason I left and am now here, 
has also been fairly stated. I voted at the election 
for the ordinance of Secession. My object in now 
writing you, is to procure through you, from the 
Commander of the Federal forces in Western Vir- 
ginia, a ^ pass,' that will enable me to return to my 
home and family among you. Every interest I 
have in the world, social, civil, and political, is 
united, and indissolubly bound up, with the people 
of Western Virginia ; and, in the language of one 
of old, ' Thy God is my God, thy people are my 
people, where thou goest I will go, where thou 
diest I will die, and there will I be buried.' Occu- 
pying the position you know I do, why should I 
not return, and that soon? You now have it in 
your power to confer upon me such a favor as it is 



92 THE CHANCES FOR MAKING A MILLION. 

seldom one man can confer upon another. Yes, 
you can restore me to my home, to my wife and 
little children, who are in constant need of sup- 
port and assistance from me, and who can not 
possibly pass the approaching winter without my 
assistance, or some other equally efficient aid. 
Will you do it? Can you refuse when my all is at 
stake? Won't you act, and that immediately, 
and grant me rehef ? The statement here made is 
strictly correct, and I would be willing to append 
my affidavit thereto. 

" Your cousin, 

"E. W. PATTOK" 

A week later, Patton made his appearance in 
Clarksburg, and the whole town was in a fever of 
excitement. Although he announced he had taken 
the oath before Colonel John Gr. Kelley, at Graf- 
ton, who had administered it by order of Brigadier 
General Kelley, commanding the district of Graf- 
ton, the meddlesome ones denounced him as a 
traitor and spy, and, at their instance, Patton was 
arrested by the Commandant of the Post, when 
he produced the certificate of Colonel Kelley that 
he had taken the oath, and was entitled to the pro- 
tection of the military authorities. Their curses 
were loud and deep. At first the document was 
pronounced a forgery; General Kelley was tele- 
graphed upon the subject, and when his reply 
came Patton was discharged. It was resolved he 




We were only Hunting Squirrels."-Page 03. 



ARREST OF THE " SECESH." 98 

should leave the country; a committee was ap- 
pointed to notify him of the fact, but, as in other 
instances, after passing high sounding resolutions, 
and- making boisterous speeches, the whole matter 
was permitted to sleep, each member of the com- 
mittee depending upon the other to act, and all of 
them saying they could not find time from their 
business to do so. Having a personal difficulty a 
few months after, upon a frivolous pretext he 
was again arrested, and almost immediately dis- 
charged. 

The Secessionists arrested in arms, in the moun- 
tain counties, presented a woe-begone and misera- 
ble appearance. Taught to believe they were 
performing a sacred duty they owed their cause, 
by shooting the friends of the Government, and 
appropriating their property, they skulked about 
the country, stealing horses and cattle, picking off 
pickets, and shooting from behind the rocks and 
bushes along the high roads all who bore the 
semblance of Union men — a most unnatural and 
cowardly species of warfare. 

When arrested with arms in hand, they were, 
according to their accounts, the most innocent, as 
well as the most abused, of men. Not one of them 
ever purposed doing any harm. 

On being interrogated as to their object in being 
armed, their invariable reply was : 

""We were only hunting squirrels." 

They were mostly unshaven and unshorn, 



94 THE CHANCES FOR MAKING A MILLION. 

presenting a filthy appearance, and were attired in 
the most heterogeneous and primeval manner, for 
"Western Virginia is truly a museum of old clothes. 
"We would occasionally receive letters of the fol- 
lowing character from ofiicers at camps, where 
Secession prisoners were confined : 

Headquarters O. V., U. S. A., 

Camp Chase, Decemher 5, 1861. 
Quartermaster at Clarksburg: 

Sir — H. T. Martin, who is a prisoner at this 
place, had sent to him a carpet-bag containing 
clothes, and which, he says, is detained by you 
until his trial shall occur. If this be the case, such 
a course only compels the Gfovernor to furnish him 
while here. E'othing is sent into the prison with- 
out an examination, and only when found unob- 
jectionable. You will please, therefore, send every- 
thing belonging to said Martin that is necessary as 
evidence, to this camp. 

I am, sir, your obedient servant, 

W. H. CLAPP, 
Act. A. A. G. 

'Not aware that we were detaining Martin's 
carpet-bag, we replied : 

Office of Assistant Quartermaster, 

Clarksburg, December 9, 1861. 
Captain — In reply to your communication of the 
5th inst., I have the honor to inform you that I 



ARREST OF THE *' SECESH/' 95 

never heard of Martin, or his carpet-bag, until the 
receipt of your letter. 

I am respectfully, yours, 

CHAS. LEIB, 

Captain and A. Q. M. 

Capt. W. H. Clapp, Act. A. A. G., Camp Chase, 
Ohio. 

Among the prisoners sent to Clarksburg, was 
a young girl of seventeen, named Mary Jane 
Green. She resided in Braxton County, and, for a 
long time, was engaged in carrying a mail between 
Sutton, the county seat of that county, and the 
rebel camp on the Gauley. She was illiterate, 
perfectly fearless, and cordially hated the " Yankee 
vagabonds, " as she termed the Federal troops. 
She was noted for her profanity, and when, with 
the rest of the family, she was arrested, cursed and 
swore like a professional blackleg, or horse racer, 
declaring she would have the heart's blood of 
every " Lincoln ipwp " in Western Virginia. The 
real cause of the war, and the effect of Secession, 
having been explained to her brother, he expressed 
a desire to be permitted to take the oath of allegi- 
ance, saying that he had been misled. Mary 
Jane became furious, forgot all sisterly affection 
she possessed, denounced him as a coward, and 
swore that he might take the oath, but that 
they could not make a d — d Abolitionist of her. 
When on her way to Clarksburg, in charge of 



96 THE CHANCES FOR MAKING A MILLION. 

Lieutenant George E. O'Neal, Ler language was 
such, he declared, as to almost disgust him with 
the sex. While confined in prison, she ahused 
passers-by ; shouted lustily for Jeff. Davis and the 
Southern Confederacy, and swore she would have 
the heart of General Rosecrans, if she were ever 
released. Kindness did not move, and affection 
was thrown away upon her. The Secession ladies, 
who are refined and inteUigent, deeply sympa- 
thized with her, but permitted the Federal officers 
to provide her with decent apparel, which she 
accepted, although coming from those whom she 
regarded as her persecutors. The people residing 
in the neighborhood of the jail felt relieved when 
she was sent to Wheeling. Arrived there, she 
was taken to the principal hotel, and treated with 
the greatest kindness ; was neatly clad, and, on 
promising that she would try to do better, was 
released, and a home obtained for her in a respect- 
able family; but falling in with some Secession 
friends, she became as bad as ever. 

After the release from Camp Chase of a number 
of prisoners residing in Western Virginia, who 
took the oath and gave security for their future 
good conduct, we were greatly annoyed by them. 
Those residing west of Clarksburg had railroad 
passes furnished them to that point, and fre- 
quently came with a request from Quartermasters 
to furnish them transportation to their houses. 
We were not there for that purpose, and did 



ARREST OF THE " SECESH." 97 

not, in a single case, comply with the request. 
The Secessionists could not understand why we 
would not use our transportation to convey them, 
and always left grumbling, that we were not half 
as accommodating as other Quartermasters. It 
mattered not how ragged and ill-clad these men 
were when arrested, they always returned in a 
suit of Uncle Sam's clothing. The course of the 
authorities toward them had the effect to change 
the feelings of many toward the I^orthern people, 
and many acknowledged to us that they were 
satisfied that they had been better cared for than 
were the Federal prisoners at Richmond. In some 
instances, upon returning to their houses, they dis- 
regarded their obligations, and, to be revenged for 
their imprisonment, became more violent and vin- 
dictive than they were before. In and about 
Clarksburg, the Secessionists were comparatively 
quiet, and unless pointed out, it was almost im- 
possible to tell who they were. The leaders had 
nearly all fled to Richmond, while the young men 
raised a company, elected U. M. Turner, a promi- 
nent member of the bar, Captain, and joined the 
rebel forces. 

One bright spring afternoon, a company of Se- 
cessionists made their appearance in the town, and, 
after parading the streets for some time, were in- 
vited to the residence of a prominent Secessionist 
to partake of a lunch. The young Union men 
became furious, and assembling in front of the 
9 



98 THE CHANCES FOR MAKING A MILLION. 

house, with arms in hand, compelled the valiant 
warriors to march to the jail, where, with ill grace, 
they stacked their arms for the night. The fol- 
lowing morning, some of the would-be Union lead- 
ers, desirous of toadying to the Secession sentiment, 
persuaded the young men to deliver the company 
their arms, which they finally did, much against 
their will. To hide their shame, the company, on 
arriving at Weston, the county seat of Lewis 
County, asked permission to stack their arms in 
the jail, saying they were in the habit of doing so, 
when in a country town. The most bitter feeling 
existed among the parties. Friends, who for years 
had sustained toward each other the most inti- 
mate relations, suddenly became bitter enemies. 
Society was broken up, and the ladies would flout 
by each other with flashing eyes, looking scorn 
and contempt. It was our fortune to come in con- 
tact with both men and women, and it is due them 
we should say they seldom obtruded their opinions 
upon us. When they did so, an intimation, which 
we always gave, that the subject was distasteful 
to us, sealed their mouths. 



COMEDY OF WAR. 99 



CHAPTER IX. 

COMEDY OF WAR. — THE NIGHT ATTACK. 

In May, immediately preceding the arrival of 
the Fourteenth Ohio Regiment, there occurred an 
incident too laughable to pass over without some 
notice. We will give it as related to us. When 
it became known that the regiment had arrived at 
Parkersburg, and was on its way thither, the men 
of Clarksburg claiming to be loyal — suddenly be- 
came very patriotic. Meetings were held, patri- 
otic speeches made, bold threats indulged in to 
exterminate the Secessionists, and it was resolved 
to organize a " Home Guard," a patriotic band, 
which proved, alas! to be "invisible in war and 
invincible in peace." Men of all ages and sizes 
rushed to the standard. Officers were elected, who 
declared they would fight, and they were regularly 
drilled when the roads were dry, and the weather 
propitious. The " Guard " was the hope and 
pride of the Union men of Harrison County. Fond 
mothers gazed exultingly upon their darling sons, 
arrayed in all the '' pomp and circumstance of glori- 
ous war." Youthful maidens looked admiringly 
upon their chosen ones, and silently prayed that, 
though kept far from the scenes of danger, each 



100 THE CHANCES FOR MAKING A MILLION. 

one would, ere the war was over, win the star of a 
General. 

Hearing that a noted guerrilla chieftain, whose 
deeds of cruelty had made him the terror of "West- 
ern Virginia, had threatened to attack the town, 
pickets, composed of the valorous Guard, were 
stationed at all the roads leading to it. It was 
a time of expectation. When citizens retired, 
they feared they would waken to witness scenes 
of blood, and to hear the death shrieks and dying 
groans of their neighbors, and to find their homes 
in flames. At sunset, the detail was made from the 
Guard of those who were to stand picket for the 
night. They were well armed with primitive 
weapons, and, to keep their courage up, a flask of 
the principal production of Western Virginia — 
" apple whisky." 

One moonless, though starry night, as the shiver- 
ing and alarmed pickets, marching to and fro 
upon the end of the bridge nearest town, fancying 
in every bush an armed man, and an enemy behind 
every tree, suddenly they were startled, with what 
appeared to them the uniform and heavy tread of 
approaching soldiery. To revive their fainting 
courage, which, like Bob Acres, was oozing out at 
their fingers' ends, they applied themselves to their 
flasks. Again they listened, and again they drank, 
for nearer, and yet nearer, came that solemn tread, 
each foot-fall of which seemed their death knell. 
And now it reaches the bridge, and, against the 



COMEDY OP WAR. 101 

the star-lit sky, they see the gleam of innumerable 
bayonets. 

"Who goes there?" one of the pickets in 
faltering accents cried, "his hair standing on end 
and his voice sticking in his throat." l^o answer 
but the solemn tread ! Firing their guns in a per- 
fect paroxysm of terror, the pickets precipitately 
fled toward town, shouting at the top of their 
voices : 

" The enemy are coming : the Secesh are upon 
us!" 

Rushing to the Court House, the bell peals out 
its wild alarm. The town is roused; men rush 
frantically from their houses, half-dressed, followed 
by women, with disheveled hair and scanty attire, 
moaning as if the day of judgment had come, 
and begging their husbands and sons not to go to 
war. 

That innumerable band, the "Home Guard," 
assembled tumultuously in front of the Court 
House, and the line having been hurriedly formed, 
amid the tears, and against the entreaties of the 
women, take up their line of march to the bridge, 
resolved to do or die. They near the fated spot ; 
and as they do so, their pace decreases, and at last 
comes to a dead halt — fear and anxiety depicted on 
every countenance. 

"What brave spirit dare lead the attack ? 

They listened. ISTo sound was heard save the 
sighing of the wind among the trees, and the 



102 THE CHANCES FOR MAKING A MILLION. 

dashing of the waters of the Monongahela against 
the ahutments of the bridge. Some masked bat- 
tery or ambuscade, they are sure, will open upon 
them. 

Who dare reconnoiter ? 

At last, an old man, of Falstaffian proportions, 
with fair round belly, with good capon lined, like 
him of Shakspeare, dares the venture. A lantern 
is procured. He nears the bridge. He hears noth- 
ing save the heavy breathing of what appears to 
him, like one in agony. 

Gathering fresh courage, he proceeds across the 
bridge, followed by the ''Guard," and finds, in- 
stead of the dreaded enemy thirsting for blood, an 
innocent cow, in the last agonies of death. She 
had been mortally wounded by the chance shots 
of the valiant pickets, before their precipitate re- 
treat. Her horns, dimly seen in the obscure light, 
they had taken for the bayonets of the foe, and 
her heavy tread for that of the approaching sol- 
diery. 

The " Guard" were crest-fallen, and each swore 
to the other a solemn oath never to divulge the 
secrets of that fearful night. But, alas ! for human 
frailty. When under the influence of apple - 
whisky, one of the parties related to us these 
facts. They retired to their homes wiser and, 
we trust, better men. 



COMEDY OF WAR. lOo 

THE NIGHT ATTACK. 

"When General Rosecrans moved from Clarks- 
burg, on tlie 31st of August, lie left two companies 
of Virginia Infantry, Company E, Fourth Artillery, 
U. S. Army, and an ununiformed cavalry company. 

* The Commandant of the Post, Colonel , 

was a courteous gentleman, but an inexperienced 
soldier. 

The night after the General left, we were sent 
for to the United States Hotel, where we found E. 
M. Ifforton, Esq., United States Marshal for the 
"Western District of Virginia, and several citizens 
known and recognized as loyal men. Their budget 
was opened to us. 

A special messenger had just arrived with the 
news, that, learning there was but a small force to 
protect the immense stores in the Quartermaster 
and Commissary Departments, the Secessionists 
had suddenly assembled at "Worthington, resolved 
to burn Shinston, eight miles distant, and were 
marching on Clarksburg, to destroy it, and take 
possession of the stores. 

The following was received from men who it was 
said were reliable : 

^'Shinston, Sunday, September 1, 1861. 
Colonel — 

We arrived here at half-past nine o'clock, and we 
learn that the Secessionists have taken possession of 



104 THE CHANCES FOR MAKING A MILLION. 

Worthington, took down the flag, stopped the 
mail, and are pressing Union men into service, 
and we expect them here to-night. Please send in 
haste. 

S. S. FLEMma, 
JOHI^ A. OGDE:^T, 
A. W. SHIE"]:^." 

The information, it was said, was reliable. A 
council-of-war was convened. The Colonel ordered 
the men to sleep on their arms, and we telegraphed 
General Rosecrans, then near Weston, twenty-two 
miles distant. 

A messenger was dispatched to arouse the citi- 
zens, and as he dashed through the streets on 
horseback, shouting, " Wake up ; the Secessionists 
are upon us. You '11 all be dead in half an hour, 
unless you turn out and defend yourselves," win- 
dows flew up, capped heads popped out, and the 
utmost excitement prevailed. 

That patriotic band, the "Home Guard," had 
died a natural death, and citizens came rushing to 
us, begging for God's sake to arm them, which we 
did ; and some of them became so fond of the 
rifles, that they were never returned. 

About two o'clock in the morning, we heard 
the discharge of two muskets, and in a few min- 
utes the Commandant of the Post rushed into our 
office, trembling with excitement, looking wild 
and haggard, his face blanched, and his hair 



COMEDY OF WAR. 105 

disheveled, the very picture of despair, and fairly 
shouted : 

" Captain Leib, the enemy are upon us. They 
have driven in our pickets. What 's to be done ? " 

"We must meet and whip them, sir," we re- 
plied. 

He hesitated, stood still, and looked undecided. 
It was evident he was unnerved, and knew not 
what to do. We, a Captain, took the responsi- 
bility of ordering him. 

" Colonel, order out your men at once ; send 
Connar's Cavalry to the Ordnance Office ; I will 
arm them ; and send word to Captain Howard. I 
will join you in five minutes. Go quick," and he 
went. 

We joined him, and found he had done nothing. 
At his request, we took command, and ordered out 
a company to reconnoiter. 

Upon investigation, it proved that three or four 
sick horses had escaped from the hospital, which 
was near by where the pickets were stationed, and 
had strayed toward them. Through the dim grey 
of the early morning, they mistook the horses for 
the advance guard of the rebels, fired upon them, 
and fled, the terrible rebels running in a diflerent 
direction. 

On returning to town, we learned the Colonel 
had gone home sick, and keeping the facts to 
ourself, placed on guard, on the top of the hills 



106 THE CHANCES FOR MAKING A MILLION. 

surrounding tlie town, such citizens as feared an 
attack, with orders to give the alarm should the 
enemy approach. The enemy never came. 

The day following, we were again notified that 
the rebels had taken possession of Worthington, 
torn down the stars and stripes, and were pressing 
Union men into service. 

General James S. Wheat, Adjutant General of 
the " restored Government of Virginia," marched 
against them with a large force from Wheeling, 
while Colonel Grossman was dispatched with sev- 
eral companies from Grafton, by Brigadier- General 
Kelley. 

The following dispatch was received from the 
General : 

" Can you spare me a couple of companies of 
infantry ? Answer. 

B. F. KELLEY, 

Brigadier- G-eneralP 

One company was sent, and volunteers asked 
for. Of all the citizens, only three responded. 
Arming a large number of our teamsters and mule- 
drivers, and directing the Ordnance-Sergeant to 
put in order a six-pounder, sent by Governor 
Wise to Clarksburg at the time of the John 
Brown raid, we sent them to reinforce Colonel 
Crossman. 



COMEDY OP WAR. 107 

The following morning, we received this tele- 
gram : 

Grafton, September 2, 1861. 
Captain Charles Leib — 

We attacked the rebels at Worthington this 
morning at daylight, but they are strongly posted, 
and can not be routed without artillery. Send me 
at once two guns of Howard's Battery. 

B. F. KELLEY, 

Brigadier- General. 

During the day, flying rumors came that a des- 
perate battle had been fought, and, after a long 
struggle, the rebels had been driven from their po- 
sition, and nearly one-half of them taken prison- 
ers. The patriotic Union men of Clarksburg, who 
would not volunteer, were delighted, and declared 
they would have gone, but they knew there was no 
necessity for their doing so. 

On the 3d, G-eneral Kelley again dispatched us : 

Grafton, September 3, 1861. 
Captain C. Leib — 

I have no official report from Worthington yet, 
but learn by passengers that the rebels have scat- 
tered, and the troops are returning this morning. 

B. F. KELLEY, 

Brigadier- General. 

The whole affair proved to be a farce. Some 



108 



THE CHANCES FOR MAKING A MILLION. 



half-dozen drunken rebels entered "Worthington, 
tore down the flag, threatened to destroy the town, 
and, at the approach of our troops, fled. 

The Colonel commanding the forces, it is said, 
reported that, in the engagement, he had lost one 
man. It was subsequently ascertained he had run 
away. 



THE MULE DEPARTMENT. 109 



CHAPTER X. 

THE MULE DEPARTMENT. 

It was evident that tlie transportation of stores 
to the mountains by wagon-trains during the fall, 
winter, and spring, would be next to impossible. 
The six-horse army wagon, weighing nearly a ton, 
is itself a load when the roads are cut up, and the 
mud knee-deep. General Rosecrans, with his 
accustomed forethought, ordered the purchase of a 
large number of mules, which were to be broke 
for packing. When purchased, they were wild as 
so many deer, as will be seen by the following 
telegram from Captain "William Craig, A. Q. M. 
at Marietta, to whom they were originally sent, 
and who forwarded them to us : 

Marietta, August 19, 1861. 

Captain Charles Leib — 

These are the most devilish mules I ever saw. 

They destroy every thing, eat up trees and fences, 

and have nearly killed half of my men. Do you 

think of taking them away soon? If you love 

me, do so. 

W. CRAIG, 

Captain^ and A, Q, M, 



110 THE CHANCES FOR MAKING A MILLION. 

It was a gloomy prospect for us. Captain 
Craig had been stationed for years in 'New Mexico, 
was familiar with the habits of the animals, and it 
was evident they were so troublesome, that even 
he was anxious to get rid of them. We were igno- 
rant of every thing pertaining to them, but it was 
sufficient that the General commanding desired 
them broke as soon as possible. It was no easy 
matter to secure the services of men accustomed 
to handling them, and although we had numerous 
applications from persons to take charge and pre- 
pare them for the road, it was a long time before 
the services of an experienced packer could be 
obtained to superintend the work. It seemed as 
though the evil one had taken possession of 
them, so stubborn and refractory were they. 
When the first lot was partly broke, we transferred 
a portion of them to Lieutenant John H. Shuttle- 
worth, of the Third Virginia Infantry, a detach- 
ment of which was ordered to a section of country 
where wagons could not go without great diffi- 
culty. At the close of the first day's march, the 
animals were turned loose into a lot, and the fol- 
lowing morning it was next to impossible to catch 
them, the men having nearly worn themselves out 
before they succeeded in doing so. Had they been 
Mexicans, it would have been the work of but a 
few moments. The saddles were not rightly ad- 
justed, the packs not properly slung, and for miles 
the road was scattered with hard bread, flour^ 



THE MULE DEPARTMENT. Ill 

beans, coffee, rice, and sugar. At considerable 
expense, and after much trouble, we succeeded 
in securing a party of French Creoles and Mexican 
Greasers, from the prairies and mountains of the 
far "West, who were so familiar with them, that, as 
if by magic, the mules became tractable and gentle, 
and in less than two weeks they had two hundred 
ready for packing. It was a matter of wonder to 
the Rip Van Winkles of the town, to see two hun- 
dred wild mules running loose in the streets, fol- 
lowing, like so many sheep, an old grey horse, 
from whose neck was suspended a cow-bell ; but 
their indignation was excited, that the animals, 
instead of wading through mud a foot deep, pre- 
ferred the sidewalks. The hideous and uncouth 
appearance of some of the men, their unintelligible 
jargon and wild war-hoops, as they sometimes 
dashed through the streets when off duty, was a 
great cause of complaint, to say nothing of the 
grumbling of a TsTabob, whose palatial residence 
was erected too near the mule-yard, and whose 
morning slumbers were disturbed by their hideous 
braying ; nor yet of the indignation of some anti- 
quated beldam, when a refractory brute, upon 
being driven to water, would breach her dilapi- 
dated and rotten fence. Over a cup of tea was the 
Quartermaster freely discussed for permitting these 
things, his official conduct criticised, and his most 
sacred private relations canvassed. 
The trial trip to the mountains almost proved a 



112 THE CHANCES FOR MAKING A MILLION. 

failure. General Milroy, commanding at Cheat 
Mountain, telegraphed for forage, and it was 
determined to send a pack-train of one hundred 
mules loaded with oats. Paul Guitar, Chief of one 
of the trains, was ordered to prepare for the trip. 
Paul is a St. Louis Creole, and for many years was 
in the service of the American Fur Company, 
among the Blackfoot Indians, as a trader and trap- 
per. He is brave and illiterate ; speaks English 
imperfectly, and the history of his life is one of 
deep interest. He was proud of his band, many of 
whom were with him in the Pocky Mountains, but 
he was willful, and determined to have his own 
way in every thing. 

Before going to Virginia, he was employed in 
packing stores in General Fremont's Division, in 
Missouri, where every request made was granted 
him ; but we would not do so, and he became stub- 
born, and refused to move. The order had been 
given, and Paul found he must go. Taking more 
men and less mules than directed, he proceeded 
toward Buckhannon, and, instead of making that 
place before halting, camped &ve miles distant 
from Clarksburg. 

Mr. C. C. Catlett, Chief of the Mule Depart- 
ment was dispatched for him, and at twelve o'clock 
at night Paul was brought before us, and severely 
reprimanded for disobedience of orders. The 
extra men were brought back, and early in the 
morning he proceeded on his journey. 



THE MULE DEPARTMENT. 113 

The adventures and voyages of old Paul are 
so full of incident and interest, that we are sure 
they will interest our readers. 

In the spring of 1831 he was employed by John 
B. Sarpy, the senior member of the firm of Pierre 
Chouteau & Co., of the American Fur Company, 
to go to the Indian Country on a trading and trap- 
ping expedition. The Rocky Mountain Indians 
were at that time at war with the whites, and with 
a full knowledge of the dangers he would be com- 
pelled to encounter, and the trials he would proba- 
bly be called upon to endure, in spite of the entrea- 
ties of his friends and relatives, embarked, with a 
number of others, on the steamer latan, which had 
been chartered by the Fur Company to convey the 
voyageurs as far as Council Blufis — a distance of 
five hundred miles. 

Paul was young, light-hearted, and full of hope 
for the future. He delighted in excitement, and 
when, after disembarking at the Blufis, in com- 
pany with other mountaineers, he left for the 
mouth of the Yellow Stone River, in charge of one 
hundred and fifty pack mules, laden with beads, 
calico, and every description of trinkets, to tickle 
the fancy of the Indians, declared he never had 
been so happy. 

Mnety days after leaving St. Louis, the party 

reached the fort of the Fur Company, and for the 

first time, during that period, slept under a roof. 

Although his maiden trip, his sleepless energy and 

10 



114 THE CHANCES FOR MAKING A MILLION. 

undaunted spirit, the care he took of the animals, 
and his eflbrts to do his duty, attracted the atten- 
tion of the men, who recognized in him a master- 
spirit, and with one voice pronounced him Chief. 
The House, at St. Louis, approving their choice, 
he entered upon his duties, and commenced the 
organization of a party to go upon a hunting expe- 
dition up the Yellow Stone Eiver. 

After an absence of several months, during which 
time they obtained a large quantity of valuable 
furs, the party returned to the fort, where Paul 
remained in charge a considerable length of time. 
The time for his return having arrived, he caused 
to be built ten Mackinaw boats, loaded them with 
furs and buffalo-robes, and taking on board Mr. 
Charles P. Chouteau and family, who were to 
accompany him, at a given signal cut loose from 
the shore, proceeded down the river, meeting with 
no accident until when nearly opposite Fort Ben- 
ton, where the whole fleet was snagged ; those on 
board barely escaping with their lives, and the 
Fur Company losing thirty thousand dollars. 

The accident chagrined and mortified Paul, 
who was piloting the boats. He immediately ten- 
dered his resignation to Mr. Chouteau, who replied 
he could afford to lose the goods, but that him he 
would not give up. Every article they had was 
lost, save the wet clothing upon their backs; and, 
although many of the men had not seen their fami- 
lies for years, they resolved to return to Fort 



THE MULE DEPARTMENT. 115 

Pierre. After forty days hard traveling, they 
reached it at the dead of night, and demanded 
admittance. The inmates, believing the fort was 
about to be attacked by Indians, fired upon them, 
instantly killing four of the party. Discovering 
their mistake they threw open the gates, and Paul 
and his almost famished band entered, not to re- 
joice as they had expected, but to mourn the loss 
of their companions. Fatigue and hunger were 
forgotten, and the old mountaineers, men who were 
strangers to fear, and whose eyes had scarce been 
bedewed with tears, wept as they dwelt upon the 
bravery and virtues of the dead, who with them 
had borne the hardships of the frontier, and braved 
the poisoned arrows of the Rocky Mountain sav- 
ages. 

Another trip up the Yellow Stone was the result 
of the disaster upon the river. On reaching the 
mouth of the Kankee, one of its branches, w^here 
Paul encamped for the night, the party had their 
first skirmish with the red skins. About nine 
o'clock the guard came rushing to Paul's wigwam, 
and gave information that a band of Blackfoot In- 
dians had stolen three of the mules, and were in 
the vicinity of the camp. In a moment he was up, 
and telling the guard not to stir, quickly dressed 
himself, and, with the stealth of a cat, moved 
through the camp, awakened his men, whispering 
that danger was near, cautioned them not to make 
the slightest noise, and not to leave the lodges 



116 THE CHANCES FOR MAKING A MILLION. 

until the signal was given. With rifles by their 
sides they lay for more than an hour ; hearing no 
signal became alarmed, and one of them crept out- 
side the lodge, but in a few moments returned, 
sa^dng that he had heard voices where the mules 
were picketed, but he could neither hear nor see 
Paul. 

Shortly he made his appearance, and giving 
directions, the whole party left the lodges, creep- 
ing upon their hands and knees for some distance, 
when he gave the signal to halt, and suddenly 
raising up walked toward the Indians, and asked 
why they, who had been, in times gone by, so 
friendly, had come to steal his property. They 
recognized his voice and replied, they only wanted 
to borrow a few mules. Paul replied, if they 
would only come to his lodge he would give them 
all they wanted. After consulting for some time, 
they agreed if Paul would give them up his rifle, 
they would accompany him. Instantly comply- 
ing with their request, he was seized from behind 
and thrown upon the ground; but while a rope 
was being tied around his body, he gave a whistle, 
and in an instant his party surrounded the In- 
dians, killing the two who were tying him. 

The Indians, finding themselves out-numbered, 
returned the mules, shook hands with Paul, and 
the Chief of the band oflfered him his daughter for 
his wife ; he accepted : and at St. Louis she and 
her four pappooses are to be seen, all of them living 



THE MULE DEPARTMENT. 117 

images of the hero of the Yellow Stone. Their 
trinkets exchanged for robes and furs, the party- 
returned to Fort Pierre. Boats were again built, 
and the whole party were once more on their way 
to St. Louis. When they neared the spot where 
they were wrecked before, Paul, who under the 
most trying circumstances is usually calm, became 
terribly excited. Mght was approaching, and the 
lady of Mr. Chouteau, who was on board, implored 
him to wait until morning, before attempting to 
proceed ; but quietly telling her to go to the cabin, 
he seized the helm with a lirmer grasp, and sur- 
veying with his eagle eye the angry waters, waved 
his hand to those in charge of the other boats to 
come on, (all the while encouraging the passen- 
gers,) safely passed the dangerous point, followed 
by the whole fleet. Arrived at Council BluflFs, the 
cargo was transferred to a steamboat belonging to 
the Fur Company, which was waiting their arrival. 
After an absence of two years and three months, 
Paul stood on the wharf at St. Louis, and was 
warmly welcomed by his friends; but he had ac- 
quired a fondness for mountain life, and after a 
few days became restless, dissatisfied, discontented, 
and could scarcely contain his joy, when, at the 
end of two months, he was notified that in a few 
days he would be required to leave for Fort Pierre 
with a lot of mules and horses. At once he set 
about making preparations for the trip, and with 
some trouble succeeded in obtaining the number 



118 THE CHANCES FOR MAKING A MILLION. 

of men required to accompany him. Some of 
those who had endured with him the hardships 
of the former trip, and knew how cordially the In- 
dians hated the whites, were deterred from going 
by their families, to whom they had related their 
adventures and trials. Paul made the trip, a dis- 
tance of three thousand miles, in one hundred and 
twenty days. After an absence of several years, 
during which time he was most successful in trad- 
ing and trapping, he returned to St. Louis, and 
resolved to abandon the life of a mountaineer. 
But he was not satisfied, and joined the party of 
Colonel Fremont, who was preparing for his cele- 
brated trip to the Eocky Mountains. Twenty of 
his men were frozen to death on that trip. For 
more than sixty days they were on the mountains, 
and endured every hardship men were capable of 
enduring. After some time Paul left the party, 
and returned alone to St. Louis, and Avas again 
sent by the Fur Company to the upper Missouri. 
On one occasion, when on a trading expedition, a 
party of Sioux Indians came upon him and his 
men when asleep, took him prisoner, carried him 
to their camp, where they stripped him of his cloth- 
ing, and at a signal from the Chief, the women 
would pass by him, and with a hickory cudgel 
administer severe blows upon his bare back. He 
was finally released, and told to turn somersaults 
for the amusement of the women, but failing in 
this, they pricked him with needles, delighted at 



THE MULE DEPAETMENT. 119 

the pain tliey occasioned him. Tired of their cruel 
sport, they bade him run for his life, and he de- 
clares, though nearly dead, never before had he 
made such good time. 

Like nearly every article furnished for the army, 
the pack-saddles proved almost worthless. They 
were made of bass wood, covered with sheepskin 
instead of raw hide, and were fastened together 
with four-penny nails. The instant they were ex- 
posed to damp weather, they almost fell apart. It 
was next to impossible to fasten the saddles on the 
mules properly, and the result was, the loss of a 
considerable quantity of grain. 

By order of General Rosecrans, we sent to the 
Kanawha Country, Cheat Mountain, and other 
parts of the Department, some of the most experi- 
enced of the packers to teach Eegimental Wagon- 
masters and teamsters the art; but little benefit was 
derived therefrom, as they had no opportunity of 
applying their knowledge to practice. 

The execrable winter weather, for which West- 
ern Virginia is noted, had a bad effect upon the 
public animals in our Department. It was cold, 
blustering, raining, and snowing almos't daily 
for four months ; and if the sun did venture to 
shine, it was only for a few hours. To protect 
them, we built a large number of sheds and sta- 
bles, a part of which were for the horses of the 
First Virginia Cavalry and Captain R. V. W. 



120 THE CHANCES FOR MAKING A MILLION. • 

Howard's Light Battery, Fourtli Artillery, U. 8. 
Army. 

The mule packers were a happy set. Seated 
round their camp-fires at night, they would relate 
to each other, with great gusto, their adventures 
in the mountains, while at times they would while 
away the weary hours listening to the patriotic 
songs of a glee cluh, belonging to one of the 
bands. 

The different bands were jealous of each other; 
each claiming to be able to perform the greatest 
amount of labor, and to have their animals in the 
best condition, and broke to packing. Paul and 
his band had painted upon their cooking-shed, 
" We come to work, and not to learn ; " Captain 
Bayes and his greasers, "Actions speak louder 
than words ; " while another band, brought from 
Cincinnati, were contented with announcing them- 
selves as " Buckeye Boys." 

Occasionally, differences would arise between 
them and the men em^Dloyed in the horse depart- 
ment, upon whom they professed to look with 
contempt. Unable to settle the difficulties, the 
Chiefs would at times appeal to the Quartermaster, 
and the party being in fault would receive a severe 
reprimand, or discharge. 

Eev. J. W, Curry, or Brother Curry as he is 
sometimes called, is Chaplain of the bloody Third 
Virginia Hegimeut of Infantry. Brother Curry 



THE MULE DEPARTMENT. 121 

is a preacher of the Methodist persuasion; is a 
sincere Christian, and a devoted lover of yellow- 
legged chickens. His heart overflows with the 
milk of human kindness toward his fellows, and 
his whole soul is wrapped up in the spiritual 
welfare of his regiment. 

For many months, the regiment was scattered ; 
but he faithfully visited the different companies, 
giving them good advice, preaching patriotic ser- 
mons, and urging the men to send to their families 
every dollar of their pay they possibly could. He 
was certain to be on hand to receive his pay 
whenever the Paymaster came around, and also 
the allotments for the families of the soldiers, 
every dollar of which he promptly and faithfully 
delivered. 

Though a good, he was not a great man, and 
always preached short and practical sermons. A 
joke he did not relish half as much as a good 
dinner, especially if the joke was at his expense. 

We had invited Rev. Father O'Connor, of Wes- 
ton, to hold service in the Government warehouse, 
as a large number of troops, then at Clarksburg, 
were of his faith, and extended a similar invitation 
to Brother Curry, promising him a large congre- 
gation. He accepted; the time was appointed, 
and the day previous we rode into the " corral," 
and calling around us several hundred teamsters, 
mule-drivers, and packers, informed them that on 
the morrow there would be service, and that their 
11 



122 THE CHANCES FOR MAKING A MILLION. 

presence would oblige us. They readily agreed to 
attend, and when morning came, and the hour for 
service arrived, some two hundred marched into 
the warehouse, and quietly took their seats. 

It was a pleasant sight, to look upon those rough, 
unlearned, unlettered men, many of whom had 
probably not attended Divine service for years, 
upon bended knees, listening to a fervent prayer 
offered at the throne of grace, and to behold them 
weeping as he recounted the sufferings of the dying 
Saviour upon the cross. 

During the entire sermon, not a single man 
moved ; but the instant the benediction was pro- 
nounced, there was a rush for the door. 

Their comments upon the sermon were amus- 
ing : 

" I say, Bill, how did you like that preacher? " 

" Fust rate ; he's a gay old preacher, ain't he ? " 

" Well, he is. Did you see how he fetched Jake 
to his milk ? He blubbered like a baby." 

'^I don't think he can preach much," said 
another. 

" You ort a' been to camp meetin' near Dayton, 
last summer. The way the preachers brought the 
fellows down on their marrer-bones was a caution. 
I say, Bill, didn't that big old feller, what stood by 
the Captain and led the singin', holler? Wouldn't 
he make a bully mule-driver ? " 

Others were silent and subdued. They probably 
thought of the religious instructions received in 



THE MULE DEPARTMENT. 123 

their youth at the knee of a mother now in her 
grave ; or of what was taught them at Sabbath- 
School. 

Though of rough exterior, they had true hearts. 
Their lives and associations had been such as would 
apparently crush out every religious feeling and 
sentiment, but only a word was needed to revive 
them. Repeatedly they inquired of us when there 
would be " preaching in the warehouse," but 
Brother Curry was soon after ordered to join his 
regiment at Buckhannon, and we had not an 
opportunity of again inviting him. 



124 THE CHANCES FOR MAKING A MILLION. 



CHAPTER XI. 

THE EXPRESS COURIER LINE AND THE BUSHWHACKERS. 

In consequence of the stoppage of tlie mails 
west of Clarksburg, it became necessary to estab- 
lish an Express Courier Line to Headquarters, to 
convey to the officers of General Rosecrans' col- 
umn their letters and official documents from the 
Headquarters of the Army at Washington. 

Procuring the best men we could, we put the 
line into operation, but it was some time before it 
worked to our entire satisfaction. The superin- 
tendent proved inefficient ; but, for the want of a 
better, we were obliged to retain him for a time. 
The General grumbled ; his staff grumbled, and 
there was a general grumbling time at Head- 
quarters, at the irregularity with which the mail 
arrived. 

Horses and riders were stationed about eight 
miles apart, a time-table prepared, and the couriers 
were ordered to push forward as rapidly as possi- 
ble. They were also directed to watch the military 
telegraph line, and to report to the nearest offi- 
cer, when the line was out of order. Becoming 



EXPRESS COURIER LINE AND BUSHWHACKERS. 125 

impatient with the slow movements and little 
energy displayed by the Superintendent, we tele- 
graphed him : 

A. F. E'ewman, Chief of Express, 

BULLTOWN : 

What is required to perfect the line. You have 
had plenty of time to do so. Every facility has 
been afforded you, and yet nothing has been done. 
Unless you get the line in good working order at 
once, I must make a change. You have not yet 
reported your stations to me. Answer at once. 

CHAS. LEIB, 
Captain and A. Q. M. 

This dispatch set him to work in earnest. He 
felt that his official head was in danger, and, after 
a time, we had for a while uninterrupted commu- 
nication with Headquarters. The body of the 
rebels had been driven from the country lying be- 
tween Harrison County and Gauley River. It was 
not deemed necessary to retain a large force there, 
and, by degrees, the troops were withdrawn, only 
part of the Thirty-sixth Ohio Regiment having 
been left to protect the Union citizens, and to keep 
open the roads. 

This fact becoming known to the rebels, a num- 
ber of parties of guerrillas, or bushwhackers, 
returned, shot down Union men, cut the telegraph 
wire, stole the horses of the couriers, and occa- 



126 THE CHANCES FOR MAKING A MILLION. 

sionally took one a prisoner, and sent him to Ricli- 
mond. 

The bushwhackers are composed of a class of 
men who are noted for their ignorance, indolence, 
duplicity, and dishonesty; whose vices and pas- 
sions peculiarly fit them for the warfare in which 
they are engaged, and upon which the civilized 
world looks with horror. Imagine a stolid, vicious- 
looking countenance, an ungainly figure, and an 
awkward if not graceful, spinal curve in the dor- 
sal region, acquired by laziness and indifference to 
maintaining an erect posture ; a garb of the coars- 
est texture of homespun linen or linsey-woolsey, 
tattered and torn, and so covered with dirt as not 
to enable one to guess its original color ; a dilapi- 
dated, rimless hat or cap of some wild animal 
covering his head, which has not been combed for 
months; his feet covered with moccassins, and a 
rifle by his side, a powder-horn and shot-pouch 
slung around his neck, and you have the beau 
ideal of a Western Virginia bushwhacker. Thus 
equipped, he sallies forth with the stealth of the 
panther, and lies in wait for a straggling soldier, 
courier, or loyal citizen, to whom the only warn- 
ing given of his presence, is the sharp click of his 
deadly rifle. He kills for the sake of killing, and 
plunders for the love of gain. Parties of these 
ferocious beasts, under cover of darkness, frequently 
steal into a neighborhood, burn the residences of 
loyal citizens, rob stores, tan-yards, and farm-houses 




Devil Bill Parsons, the Bushwhacker. 



EXPRESS COURIER LINE AND BUSHWHACKERS. 127 

of every thing they can put to use, especially arms, 
ammunition, leather, clothing, bedding, and salt. 
They do not stop at pillage, for ofttimes is their 
track marked with blood. The leaders of some of 
these bands have acquired great notoriety by their 
cold-blooded brutality and adroitness at theft. 
One of these is a man who, in days gone by, en- 
joyed, to a great degree, the confidence of the peo- 
ple of Western Virginia. He, together with 
ex-Governor Wise, did much to make bushwhack- 
ing respectable in the estimation of the depraved 
and ignorant. The political leaders, who instigated 
these men to engage in bushwhacking, generally 
keep aloof from actual participation in the war, 
only planning forays, participating in the gains of 
theft, and conveying stolen horses and goods to 
a market where they can be disposed of to an 
advantage. 

A notorious bushwhacker is Bill Parsons, or 
Devil Bill as he is called. Bill is filthy in appear- 
ance, and, like the rest of his class, has low instincts, 
and is as ferocious as a hyena. It is said he has 
eleven wives, and it is a fact well known, that one 
of them is his own daughter. He resides in Roane 
County, where he has been guilty of many gross 
outrages. 

The result of this devilish mode of warfare in 
Western Virginia, has been the destruction of 
every interest, and almost every pursuit, save 
that of the soldier. Towns have been burned or 



128 THE CHANCES FOR MAKING A MILLION. 

pillaged, farm-houses deserted, agriculture has 
been neglected, commerce destroyed, and the inter- 
ests of education disregarded. Many of those who 
were favorable to Secession having seen their error, 
desired to return to loyalty, and seek peace and 
protection from the Government they, a short time 
ago, attempted to destroy. To Colonel Thomas 
M. Harris, commanding the Tenth Virginia In- 
fantry, is the Union cause greatly indebted for 
creating a healthy public sentiment in what is 
called the rebel counties. At the risk of his life 
he went among the Secessionists, pointed out to 
them the madness of their course, and induced 
many of them to renounce that damnable doc- 
trine. 

iJ^otwithstanding the threats that the Courier 
Line should be broken up, it was kept in running 
order. As fast as a horse was stolen, we replaced 
him, armed the Couriers with ISTavy revolvers, and 
directed them to shoot whoever attempted to in- 
terfere with them when in the discharge of duty. 
This, to some extent, intimidated the bushwhack- 
ers, who are mostly cowards, and do not care to 
get within the range of a pistol. 

Another Superintendent was appointed, one 
Angus M. Keiger, of Clarksburg, who, we had 
reason to believe, from representations made to us 
as to his character, was a man of pluck, and pecu- 
liarly fitted for the position, but after having 
passed over the line a few times, and having, as he 



EXPRESS COURIER LINE AND BUSHWHACKERS. 129 

said, been shot at, tendered his resignation, as we 
believe, because there was danger of the enemy 
firing bullets. We were obliged to forage the 
whole line from Clarksburg, as there was none to 
be obtained on the road. Every pound of hay, 
corn, and oats had been used that could be ob- 
tained, and it was no small matter to transport 
grain in the depth of winter, and in the early 
spring, through the enemy's countr^^, when the 
roads were almost impassable. 

The most urgent and earnest apjpeals were made 
to us by the Acting Assistant Quartermaster at 
Sutton, where a company of Cavalry was stationed, 
to supply that post with forage, while Captain 
Moulton, at Beverly, also drew upon us largely. 
It was sent to these posts at an enormous cost, but 
that was of no importance, when there was danger 
of the public animals suffering. 

Michael Eagan was the only Superintendent of 
the Express Line who was really efficient. He was 
tbe first Courier sent forward, and in the discharge 
of duty stopped at nothing; swam streams swollen 
by the heavy rains of tliat country; crossed the 
mountains wben he knew the bushwhacking 
bloodhounds were on his track, and when warned 
not to attempt their passage, would quietly reply : 
" Captain Leib ordered me not to stop until I had 
reached Headquarters, and I must obey." He is an 
Irishman by birth, had received a liberal educa- 
tion, and, in his younger days, was in the British 



130 THE CHANCES FOR MAKING A MILLION. 

Army. He knew not fear, and, finding liim com- 
petent and meritorious, we promoted him. 

The line was kept up at a heavy expense, and 
when General Rosecrans left the Gauley Country 
and removed to Wheeling, we recommended that 
it be abandoned, but it was not until we were 
relieved from duty. 

While the rebels were in the habit of stealing 
horses from the Courier Line, and from loyal citi- 
zens, our troops did not hesitate, and very properly, 
too, to take the horses of rebels in arms, or leading- 
ones who gave them aid and comfort. This was 
especially so with the three months' men. Those 
who could not take their horses home, frequently 
disposed of them for a mere pittance. This was 
wrong. It was their duty to deliver them to a 
Quartermaster, who would receipt for them, and 
take them up on his property return as " captured 
horses." On one occasion, the Quartermaster at 
Grafton received information that three horses, 
justly belonging to the Government, were in the 
hands of three citizens of Fetterman, two miles 
distant. A polite note was sent them, requesting 
the delivery of the horses, to which two of them 
promptly responded ; but the third, one Berger, a 
loud-mouthed Secessionist, who, in the absence of 
troops, talked large and bravely of his own valor, 
and the chivalry of the Southern Army, paid no 
attention to the request, other than to declare he 
would see Lieutenant Smith d — d, before he would 



EXPRESS COURIER LINE AND BUSHWHACKERS. 131 

deliver up the horse. An order was then sent, 
which he indignantly tore up, and threatened per- 
sonal violence to the messenger. He was delighted 
with his own bravery, and boasted that he had 
convinced the Yankees that he was not to be trifled 
with — that they could play no games on him; he 
had bought the horse, and all the soldiers at Graf- 
ton could not take him. Yery soon, a corporal 
and four soldiers, with fixed bayonets, approached, 
informed Berger that he was wanted at Grafton, and 
before he could recover from his surprise — to the 
infinite delight of the Union men, and the chagrin 
of the rebels, who were present — was on his march 
thither. 

Arrived there, he inquired in a pompous manner 
of Lieutenant Smith : 

" I want to know, sir, why I am arrested." 

"You shall know, Mr. Berger. You have a 
fine horse belonging to the United States, and it is 
my duty to obtain iiim." 

" I have a horse I bought for eighty dollars from 
a soldier, and he's mine. I paid for him, and 
mean to keep him." 

" Don't get excited, Mr. Berger. Take this mat- 
ter easy. Do you mean to say you paid that amount 
of money for him ? " 

"I mean to say he cost me that much. The sol- 
dier killed my game cock, worth fifty dollars. I 
gave him a terrier pup, worth thirty, and called it 
square." 



182 THE CHANCES FOR MAKING A MILLION. 

"Mr. Berger, you had better send to the soldier 
and get your pup back. I have no doubt your 
game cock was a valuable bird, and that your ter- 
rier pup will make a good dog, but as neither of 
them would be recognized on my property return, 
I expect you to deliver the horse to me at once." 

"I won't doit." 

"You won't?" 

" 1^0, curse me, if I do ! " 

" Corporal, hand this man over to the officer of 
the guard, with instructions to keep him in 
custody until further orders." 

"You don't mean to put me in the guard-house, 
do you ? " 

" Yes ; and to keep you there until the horse is 
restored." 

" Well, if I must, I must ! but it's hard to de- 
prive a man of his property, and loose his cock 
and pup besides. I'll give him up under protest ! " 

Berger, having sent for the korse, delivered him 
to Smith and left, swearing he would be revenged 
on the soldier for cheating him, when he knew the 
horse belonged to the Government. 



NOTABLES WE MET. 133 



CHAPTER XII. 

THE NOTABLES WE MET. 

We are indebted to the Wheeling Intelligencer 
for the following sketches of Brigadier-General 
Wm. S. Rosecrans and Brigadier- General George 
L. Hartsuff: 

brigadier-general rosecrans. 

William Starke Rosecrans was born in Kingston 
Township, Delaware County, Ohio, on the 6th of 
!N'ovember, 1819. His parents were Crandall Rose- 
crans, whose ancestors were originally from Am- 
sterdam, Holland, and Jemima Hopkins ; the form- 
er a native of Wyoming Yalley, Pennsylvania, who 
immigrated to Ohio in 1808 — the latter, raised in 
the same beautiful country, and a daughter of a sol- 
dier of the Revolution, who had for five years daily 
offered his life and treasure in that struggle for lib- 
erty. The early years of the present General were 
passed in close application to his studies, so that at 
the age of eighteen he was well fitted for his ap- 
pointment as cadet at the Military Academy at 
West Point, in 1838. He graduated with high 
honors in 1842, being third in mathematics and 
fifth in general merit, in a class of fifty-six, num- 



134 THE CHANCES IXB. MAKING A MILLION. 

bering many distinguished competitors. He en- 
tered the Corps of Engineers as Brevet Second 
Lieutenant on the first of July, 1842, and served that 
year at Fortress Monroe, as First Assistant, under 
command of Lieutenant-Colonel R. E. De Russey. 
He was ordered to duty at West Point, in 1843, 
as Assistant Professor of Engineering. 

About this period General Rosecrans was united 
in marriage, at St. John's Church, in ISTew York 
City, to the amiable and accomplished Miss A. E. 
Hegeman, only daughter of Adrian Hegeman, long 
known and respected as one of the noblest jurists 
of that city. In 1844, he was detailed as Assistant 
Professor of natural and experimental philosophy. 
Li 1845-47 he served as Assistant and First Assist- 
ant Professor of Engineering, and had charge of the 
department to which Captain Swift had been at- 
tached, while that officer served in Mexico, and was 
also for nine months Post-Quartermaster. He was 
ordered to Newport in 1847 and there took charge 
of all the fortifications, and the reconstruction of a 
large military wharf, which had previously been de- 
stroyed during a storm. This duty devolved upon 
him on account of his recognized ability as an 
engineer, and was then looked upon as a decided 
compliment. He remained there until 1852. In 
1852-'53 he was charged with the survey of I^ew 
Bedford and Providence Harbors and Taunton 
River, under an act of Congress, appropriating a 
Btated sum for the purposes of improvement. In 



NOTABLES WE MET. 135 

April, 1854, he was ordered to report for duty to the 
Secretary of the Navy, in the Bureau of Docks and 
Yards, then assigned as Constructing Engineer at 
the Washington JN'avy Yard, until IN'ovember, 1853, 
when, on account of ill health, he felt compelled to 
resign his position, and tendered his resignation to 
the Secretary of War, Jefferson Davis. The resig- 
nation was not accepted, from a desire to retain so 
valuable an officer in the service, and a leave of 
absence was granted, with the understanding that, 
at its termination, if the resignation was insisted 
upon, it would be accepted ; which was subse- 
quently done in April, 1854. 

From that date to June, 1855, General Rosecrans 
occupied an office in Cincinnati as Consulting En- 
gineer and Architect. In June, 1855, he was in- 
duced to take charge of the interests of the Cannel 
Coal Company, which, with other parties, were 
engaged in building locks, dams, and endeavoring 
to effect slack-water navigation on Coal River, in 
"Western Virginia. As Superintendent of the 
works, and President of the Company, he gave 
great satisfaction, but relinquished his position to 
assume control of the Cincinnati Coal Oil Com- 
pany, then making preparations for an extensive 
business, in which he was directly concerned. The 
many improvements perfected by him while in 
this capacity, furnish ample evidence of the fer- 
tility of his inventive genius, the depth of his 
researches, and the activity of his energetic mind. 



136 THE CHANCES FOR MAKING A MILLION. 

But the threatened storm of rebellion at last burst 
upon the country, calling to arms the noble heroes 
who were prepared to shed exultingly the last drop 
of blood in the effort to maintain the Government 
and preserve the Constitution. 

When General McClellan was appointed, he at 
once selected General Rosecrans as his Aid and 
Acting Chief Engineer, with the rank of Major. 
The Legislature of Ohio then purposely created 
the office of Chief Engineer of the State, which 
was intended for General Eosecrans, and accepted 
by him. 

On the 10th of June, 1861, he was appointed by 
Governor Dennison Colonel of the Twenty-third 
Regiment Ohio Volunteers, and was sent upon a 
mission to "Washington City to arrange for the 
maintenance and payment of the Ohio contingent 
forces. 

On the 20th of June, he was nominated by the 
President a Brigadier-General in the regular army, 
a promotion universally acknowledged to be as 
rapid as it was deserved, and attended with the spon- 
taneous ajjprobation of all classes and creeds of citi- 
zens, who knew his worth and estimated his merito 

When the advance into Western Virginia was 
made. General Rosecrans was intrusted with a 
brigade composed of the following regiments : the 
Eighth and Tenth Indiana, and the Seventeenth 
and ^N'ineteenth Ohio, and placed in command at 
Parkersburg. 



NOTABLES WE MET. 137 

Here, from an eye-witness, we find this testimony 
of his energy : 

" Our General is an incessant worker. He is in 
his saddle almost constantly. He has not had a 
full night's sleep since he has been in Virginia, and 
he as often takes his meals on horseback as at table. 
His geniality and aifability endears him to all who 
come in contact with him. His soldiers recognize 
in him a competent commander." 

He afterward proceeded to Clarksburg, thence 
to Buckhannon, and on the 12th of July fought 
the now memorable battle of Rich Mountain, suc- 
ceeding by his own plans in achieving a disastrous 
defeat for the rebels. 

In this battle he cut a passage nine miles through 
the wood, and after coming upon the enemy's rear, 
after a desperate fight of an hour and a half, 
completely routed them, capturing " all they had, 
and taking many officers, as well as privates, pris- 
oners." The rebels numbered about two thousand, 
under General Pegram, who was soon after obliged 
to surrender himself a prisoner of war. 

Subsequently, General Rosecrans drove the rebel 
Generals "Wise and Floyd out of Western Virginia, 
and captured their effects. 

Socially, the General is a refined gentleman, yet 
frank, free-spoken, and off-handed, as the fashion is 
at the West. In person he is a little above medium 
height, rather thin, and very erect, with a conspicu- 
ous broad forehead, and clear gray eyes. 
12 



138 THE CHANCES FOR MAKING A MILLION. 

McClellan being called to the head of our Army 
of the Potomac, on the 22d of July, General Rose- 
crans immediately took his place in command of 
the Army of Western Virginia, being appointed 
on the 24th of July. 

On the 1st of August, General Eosecrans tele- 
graphed to the War Department at Washington, 
that the valley of the Kanawha was freed from 
rebels, and that his forces had captured one thou- 
sand muskets, a quantity of ammunition, etc. 

On the 10th of September, he wounded and 
routed Floyd, who had sixteen pieces of artillery, 
and five or six thousand men at Carnifex Ferry, 
and again rid his Department of rebels. 

General Rosecrans' Headquarters are at Wheel- 
ing, where he has been actively preparing for the 
spring campaign. His forces are in such a condi- 
tion as to strike terror to the quaking miscreants, 
who have made their hitherto happy land one vast 
scene of treason and bloodshed. 

BRIGADIER-GENERAL GEORGE L. HARTSUFP. 

Brigadier- General Hartsuff was born in the 
State of N"ew York, on the 28th of May, 1830. 
He removed to Michigan in 1841 ; entered West 
Point Academy in 1848; graduated in 1852 as 
Brevet Second Lieutenant of the Fourth Artillery; 
was ordered to Texas in October, 1852 ; served 
there until January, 1854, having been previously 



NOTABLES WE MET 139 

promoted Second Lieutenant in the Second Artil- 
lery ; he was ordered to Florida in June, 1854 ; 
served there continually in the field until July, 
1856, having greatly distinguished himself in seve- 
ral bloody contests with the Indians, and once so 
severely wounded as to he reported dead. 

The thrilling recital of his hardships and suffer- 
ings was published in the papers of the day, and 
excited much interest. 

He also served in Florida as Acting Topographi- 
cal Engineer, and surveyed many of the swamps 
and jungles of that malarious region. He after- 
ward went with a detachment to Fort Wood, 
Bedloe's Island, 'New York Harbor, and remained 
there in command one month, being ordered to 
"West Point in September, 1856, as Assistant In- 
structor in Artillery and Infantry tactics. 

He remained at West Point up to June, 1859, 
when he was relieved at his own request, and went 
West to join his company at Mackinaw, serving 
there until October, 1860. 

The Captain was a survivor of the disaster to 
the Lady Elgin on Lake Michigan, exhibiting on 
that occasion the coolness and courage for which 
he is distinguished. 

In January, 1861, he was ordered on duty at 
Washington, and was there appointed Assistant 
Adjutant- G-eneral on the 22d of March following. 

On the 7th of April, while under orders for 
Santa ¥6 he was met in Kew York with an order 



140 THE CHANCES FOR MAKING A MILLION. 

to join a secret expedition, the destination of which 
was unknown at the time, but afterward proved to 
be to Fort Pickens, Florida. 

He returned to Washington on the 16th of July, 
and received orders to join General Rosecrans in 
"Western Virginia, arriving at Clarksburg on the 
6th of August, 1861. 

During the campaign in Western Virginia, Cap- 
tain Hartsuff was distinguished for his gallantry 
and coolness upon the field of battle. He is mod- 
est, unassuming, and eminently as well as severely 
just. His appointment was the reward of real 
merit, and not brought about by the chicanery of 
political demagogism. 

MAJOR ROBERT E. CLARY, CHIEF QUARTERMASTER, 

Major Robert E. Clary, Chief Quartermaster of 
the Department, is one of the purest and best men 
in the service. He is a native of the old Bay State, 
and entered the Army from West Point, in 1828. 
After serving at the School of Practice, at Jefferson 
Barracks, Missouri, for one year, he was attached 
to the Fifth Infantry, and, in the Spring of 1829, 
joined his company at Fort Bridger, where he 
remained until 1832, when his company was made 
a part of General Scott's force, to suppress the 
Indian outbreak under Black Hawk. 

In 1838, Lieutenant Clary was promoted to a 
Captaincy in the Quartermaster's Department, and 
ordered soon after to Florida, and placed in charge 




Major Robert E. Clary, Chief Quartermaster. 



NOTABLES WE MET. 141 

(»f the important depots of Black Creek aud Pi- 
latka, from which the troops were supplied. In 
1845 he was ordered, with two companies, to 
establish Fort Wilkins, in Copper Harbor, Lake 
Superior, where he remained on duty until the 
breaking out of the Mexican war, when he was 
ordered to Fort Leavenworth, and subsequently to 
'New Orleans, where he was stationed until 1851. 
From thence he was sent to California, in charge 
of the depot at Benicia. In 1857, he took charge 
of the Department at St. Louis; but being too 
honest an officer to suit the purposes of the Secre- 
tary of War, he was relieved from duty there, after 
some time. In 1860 he was ordered to Utah, and 
was in charge of the Quartermaster's Department 
until the troops were ordered east, to take part in 
the suppression of the rebellion. 

When the news reached Utah of the determina- 
tion of some of the Southern States to secede, it 
found among the officers of the army there, not 
only sympathizers, but open, and avowed friends. 
On the occasion of a dinner party, one of them pro- 
posed as a toast, ^' the Assassination of the Presi- 
dent and Vice-President of the United States," 
which was drank; while one of them declared, he 
did not drink, but if he did, he would respond to 
it with all his heart. Some of these officers are, 
to-day, in the rebel army, while others are now in 
the Federal service. 

Major Clary, who is a true patriot, was indignant 



142 THE CHANCES FOR MAKING A MILLION. 

at such evidences of treason, boldly denounced it ; 
and the evidences of the disloyalty of these offi- 
cers sent to the AYar Department. 

In JSTovember last, Major Clary was ordered to 
take charge of the Department of Western Vir- 
ginia, as Chief Quartermaster. As an officer, he is 
prompt, efficient, watchful of the interests of the 
Government, and has a keen sense of justice. 
Those who know him best, love him most. Our 
official intercourse with him was, to us, most 
agreeable and pleasant. 

CAPTAIN WILLIAM CRAIG, A. Q. M. 

The ablest Assistant Quartermaster in the De- 
partment of Western Virginia, is Captain William 
Craig. He was born in Vermillion County, Indi- 
ana, in 1831, is the son of a prominent pohtician of 
that county, and was sent to Wabash College, where 
he remained until the age of seventeen, when he 
received a cadetship at West Point, graduated in 
1853, and was appointed Brevet Second Lieutenant 
in the Third Infantry. The next year he was sent 
to ]^ew Mexico, and soon after his arrival a war 
broke out between the United States and the Utah 
and the Hicrea-Apacha Indians. There were but 
few troops in 'New Mexico at that time, and volun- 
teers having been called for. Colonel St.Vrain, a cele- 
brated mountaineer, raised a regiment and marched 
against them. Lieutenant Craig was appointed 
Adjutant of the Regiment. This force operated 




Captain William Craig, A. Q. M. 



V. 



NOTABLES WE MET. 143 

on the head waters of the Arkansas River, and 
after a campaign of seven months against them, 
the Indians sued for peace. During the winter 
the troops suffered terribly from cold, and fre- 
quently on their marches passed over snow forty 
feet in depth. At Sangre de Crista Pass, the 
guides tried the snow, and found they were above 
the tops of the trees. On emerging from the Pass, 
on the east side of the mountains, they found the 
grass five inches in height. Colonel St. Yrain, 
who is an extensive landholder, in appreciation of 
the services of Lieutenant Craig, presented him a 
mile square of land at that point. The war over, 
General Garland selected him as his Aid, and 
although appointed Second Lieutenant of the 
Eighth Infantry, then in Texas, would not permit 
him to join his company. He was promoted to a 
First Lieutenancy in 1857, and soon after was 
married to Miss Mary E. Cutts, the grand-niece 
of the late President Madison, and daughter of 
Lieutenant Thomas Cutts, formerly Adjutant of 
the Third Infantry, a most promising young offi- 
cer, who died a number of years ago. The follow- 
ing year. Lieutenant Craig was appointed Assist- 
ant on the Coast Survey, and directed to report to 
Professor Bache, the Superintendent, who some- 
time after ordered him to surve^^ a line from 
Beaufort, South Carolina, to Savannah, Georgia ; 
but before the instructions could be carried out, 
South Carolina seceded. 



144 THE CHANCES FOR MAKING A MILLION. 

The operations on the Coast Survey having been 
suspended in the South, Lieutenant Craig reported 
to the Adjutant-General for orders to join his 
regiment, but was informed that the traitor Twiggs 
had surrendered all the Federal forces in Texas, 
and directing him to wait further orders. Much to 
his surprise, he was unanimously elected Colonel of 
a Volunteer Regiment, then just raised at Auburn, 
'New York, and of which the son of Secretary 
Seward was elected Lieutenant-Colonel. The fol- 
lowing complimentary but just notice of his elec- 
tion was published at the time in an Auburn paper : 

" Cayuga Regiment. — First Lieutenant "William 
Craig, of the Eighth Infantry, United States Army, 
was on Saturday last unanimously elected Colonel 
of the Cayuga Regiment of Volunteers. This fine 
regiment could not have made a better selection- 
Lieutenant Craig was detached from his regiment 
last summer, and transferred to the Coast Survey 
between Beaufort and Savannah. His regiment 
was surrendered by General Twiggs in Texas, and 
is now at Indianola, prisoners of war. The inter- 
ruption of the Coast Survey has prevented him 
from being occupied on his detached service. 

" The Cayuga Regiment may congratulate itself 
in having secured so competent a commander. 
The long experience of Lieutenant Craig in Mex- 
ico, as Aid to General Garland, has given him a 
perfect knowledge of field duty, and his thorough 



NOTABLES WE MET. 145 

military education and service will give that regi- 
ment unusual advantages over those who are less 
fortunate in the qualifications and military abili- 
ties of their officers. If events shall call that regi- 
ment into actual service, we predict for it a 
gallant and honorable career from what we know 
of the material of which it is composed, and learn 
of the capability of its accomplished commander." 

Hastening to Washington with his certificate of 
election, and the indorsement of Governor Mor- 
gan, he applied for leave of absence during the 
war, to enable him to take command of the regi- 
ment ; but was met by General Scott with, " the 
little army must not be broken up," and his 
application refused, much to his chagrin. 

Shortly after he was appointed Captain and 
Assistant Quartermaster, and directed to proceed 
to Wheeling and muster into service such compa- 
nies as could be organized in Western Virginia, 
which the Government, from dispatches and letters 
received, were led to believe were numerous. He 
declares, that instead of being met by twenty-two 
hundred men, ready to be enrolled, as had been 
represented, he was met with nothing but sneers 
and jeers at every corner, and with the epithets of 
Lincoln abolitionist, and mercenary hireling, and 
that such a thing as a star-spangled banner could 
not be obtained in the city of Wheeling for love 
nor money. 
13 



146 THE CHANCES FOR MAKING A MILLION. 

l^ot daunted with this discouraging reception, 
he determined to see if some good could not ^' come 
out of IN'azareth;" had flags made, purchased 
drums, hired musicians, and, after two weeks of 
hard labor, succeeded in raising one company. 
TVhile there was a strong Union under- current in 
Wheehng, men feared to avow their opinions, and 
the few who boldly declared that the Union must 
be preserved at all hazards, and the President sus- 
tained, did so at the risk of their lives. Among 
these were E. M. Norton, now United States 
Marshal, James W. Paxton, Dr. Thoburn, A. W. 
Campbell, Editor of the Intelligencer, and Thomas 
Hornbrook, now Collector of the Port — all of 
whom had supported Mr. Lincoln for the Presi- 
dency. Companies from Ohio and Pennsylvania 
presented themselves, anxious to be mustered into 
service, but were disbanded and re-organized, be- 
fore they could be received as Virginia troops. 

Having raised the Eirst Regiment, the Colo- 
nelcy was tendered him, but the reply of General 
Scott to his application stared him in the face — 
"the little army must not be broken up " — and lie 
was compelled to decline. The Second Regiment 
was next raised, and the command tendered him, 
but he could not accept it. 

When the First Regiment was ordered to march 
to Grafton, Captain Craig desired the officers to 
receipt for the Quartermaster's and Commissary's 
stores they had received from him, which one and 



\. NOTABLES WE MET. 147 

all refused to do ; and he did not obtain them until 
Colonel Kelley ordered the officers to comply with 
his just request. 

By an order of General McClellan, Captain 
Craig was placed in command of the forces at 
Wheeling. Prisoners were sent there from all 
parts of the State, and placed in his charge, some 
of whom Governor Pierpont ordered released, and 
among others a notorious bridge-burner, named 
Stevens. The Captain could not recognize the 
authority of the Governor, and the result was, a 
bitter war was made upon him by that functionary, 
and charges brought against him. We give an 
extract from a letter to General Meigs, Quarter- 
master General, with reference to him, from the 
Governor : 

*A^ ^ "X* ^Jj^ %Lr 

*J* ^f* *J> ^f* *J> 

"My operations have been made vexatious by 
the conduct of Captain Craig, Quartermaster for 
this Division. He first had his Headquarters here ; 
then he removed them four miles down the river, 
to Bellair. The next move was to Marietta, Ohio, 
eighty miles down the river; leaving a clerk at 
Bellair to receive and forward his goods to Mari- 
etta, Ohio. Marietta is to Wheeling, for distribut- 
ing supplies, about as convenient as Acquia Creek 
is to Washington. Now, the goods for my regi- 
ments are taken from Bellair — four miles from 
Wheeling — and shipped to Marietta, there drayed 
and stored, and what becomes of them is more 



148 THE CHANCES FOR MAKING A MILLION. 

■than I can tell. Some of them have been sent 
back ; the residue is either lying there, or has been 
distributed to other troops. 

Why it is that Captain Craig's Headquarters 
should be removed to Marietta, eighty miles from 
Wheeling, and goods intended for troops that I 
am raising and equipping should be carried from 
here to Marietta and back again, is more than I 
can comprehend. 

I am convinced the whole matter is a scheme 
and determination of Craig to embarrass this 
service. And I now respectfully ask that he be 
removed from this line, and disconnected from 
this military division, and that he be ordered 
immediately to send to Wheeling all the goods 
in his possession intended for this service. 

I have further most respectfully to ask, that a 
Quartermaster be appointed at this place. If it 
can not be done, I want to know it at once. And 
if Captain Craig is not removed from this Military 
Department at once, I want to know that, too. 
I am yours, etc., 

F. H. PIERPOISTT, 

Governor of Virginia^ 

His Excellency did not know that when he 
proceeded to Marietta it was by order of General 
McClellan. 

At a later period, Captain Craig was ordered to 
purchase horses for the First Virginia Cavalry, 




Captain A. V. Barringer, Commissary of Subsistence. 



NOTABLES WE MET. 149 

which he did ; and the horses, which were not seen 
by the Governor, were pronounced almost worth- 
less. They were sent to us for the regiment, and 
the Colonel, as well as ourself, pronounced them 
the finest lot ever sent to the Department. 

So anxious was G-overnor Dennison to secure 
the services of Captain Craig, that he sent a special 
messenger to Washington to get him detached 
from his Quartermaster duties, to enable him to 
take command of a regiment, and succeeded. He 
commenced at once to raise his regiment. As fast 
as he raised companies, they were mustered into 
service, were put in camp, and prepared for the 
field. It was probably the best equipped regiment 
in the State, but some difficulties having been 
thrown in his way, preventing its speedy forma- 
tion, he resigned ; and was again ordered to duty 
in the Quartermaster's Department, and stationed 
at Parkersburg. 

He is eminently just in all his dealings, and in 
social life a polished and courteous gentleman. 



CAPTAIN A. v. BARRINGER, COMMISSARY OF SUBSISTENCE. 

Our intimate business relations with this prompt 
and energetic officer, the faithful manner in which 
he discharged the onerous duties of his position, 
justly entitles him to a notice at our hands. 

Captain Barringer was born in the city of Troy, 
New York, in 1829. His father dying when quite 



150 THE CHANCES FOR MAKING A ailLLION. 

a youtli, liis motlier placed him in a leading mer- 
cantile house in that city, at the head of which 
was a gentleman noted for his taste, cultivation, 
refinement, and great moral worth, who is now t?ie 
leading spirit in a noted IN'ew York business firm, 
to whose example and teachings, we have frequently 
heard Captain B. declare he is greatly indebted for 
his success in life. 

But the boy became restless; he longed for a 
broader field of operation, and that field was the 
great West. At sixteen, he removed to Cincinnati, 
where he was fortunate in securing a situation in 
a prominent jobbing house on Pearl street, with 
which he remained for ten years. 

He had, as he declares, no taste for mercantile 
pursuits, and abandoning them engaged in the 
study of architecture, and having made himself 
familiar with the construction of gas works, and 
the manufactare of gas, he embarked in that 
business. 

At that period, only the most important cities 
of the Union were enjoying the benefits of this, 
the greatest improvement of the age. The success 
of such an enterprise as lighting small towns was 
considered questionable. People were afraid to 
take hold of it ; but Captain Barringer was satis- 
fied that it was tenable, and he was not mistaken. 
In the last ten years, he has erected gas works in 
twenty-five cities and towns, and among them 
Milwaukie, 'New Albany, Columbus, Zanesville, 



NOTABLES WE MET. 151 

Sandusky City, Mt. Yernon, and ITewport, Rhode 
Island. The works at the latter place are noted 
for their beauty and completeness. 

His contracts during that time amounted to 
about two millions of dollars. 

Subsequently, he became interested in the con- 
struction of a land grant railroad in the ISTorth-west ; 
was in turn Secretary, Director, and Trustee for the 
conveyance of lands ; but the crisis of 1856 and 
1857 interfered with its construction, as it did 
with every other undertaking of any financial im- 
portance, and for the time being it w^as abandoned. 

From that time until the breaking out of the 
rebellion, he again engaged in his former pursuits, 
when he determined to enter the army, and was 
appointed by the President Commissary of Sub- 
sistence, and directed to report to Brigadier-General 
Rosecrans, commanding the Department of West- 
ern Virginia, then at Clarksburg. 

Proceeding thither, he requested to be stationed 
at a post where there was "plenty of work," and 
was ordered to relieve the Acting Commissary at 
Parkersburg. He took charge on the 29th of Au- 
gust, and found the Department in the most dire 
confusion, and though inexperienced and without 
competent subordinates, soon brought order out 
of chaos, systematized his business, and in every 
emergency supplied from his post the principal 
depots in the whole Department, with the vast 
amount of stores required, with a promptness that 



152 THE CHANCES FOR MAKING A MILLION. 

won the highest encomiums from the General 
commanding and the Chief of his Department. 

When at Clarksburg, to report for duty, we 
made his acquaintance, and were struck with his 
activity of mind, comprehensive business views, 
and the deep interest he manifested in every thing 
connected with the service. 

His reports and returns to the Commissary-Gene- 
ral are promptly made, and he has received from 
that officer gratifying evidences of the estimation 
in which he is held by his Department. 

Aside from our official intercourse, our relations 
with him were pleasant and agreeable. Although 
young, his business qualifications are of no ordi- 
nary character, and we predict for him a brilliant 
career in the business world. 



HUMOR OF THE DEPARTMENT. 153 



CHAPTER XIIL 

HUMOR OP THE DEPARTMENT. 

It could hardly be supposed that in a Depart- 
ment where there is so much stern reality, there 
is any humor, but could our readers have spent 
an hour in our office at Clarksburg, the first six 
months we were there, they would have heard 
much to amuse and interest them. Questions the 
most ridiculous in character were asked us ; notes, 
letters, and official documents were daily received 
from officers which should have been sufficient to 
have caused them to lose their shoulder-straps. 
"We give a verbatim copy of an order from Lieu- 
tenant Colonel H. Prather, of the Sixth Indiana 
Kegiment, commanding the post of Webster, given 
Lieutenant D. L. Smith, Quartermaster and Com- 
missary at Grafton : 

Genl Quarter Master 

Smith send Rations of Flower.. Cofee. Shugar 
rice, and beans, for 90 Men, for 5 days arerage 
and 5 days subsequient, also Stationary for post, 
all out of Cofee, and cant have breakfust, unless it 



154 THE CHANCES FOR MAKING A MILLION. 

comes, the articles of Provisions are for the board- 
ing masters, also send 50 rations of beaf fresh. 

H FEATHER, 
Lieut Col Comd Post 
Webster 16 1861 



This officer, on another occasion, telegraphed 
Lieutenant Smith to send him by " special patrol 
train, one pen six sheets writing paper, and six 
brown envelopes for use of Post." ' 

Telegrams frequently sent by officers who are 
on terms of intimacy, at times cause great merri- 
ment. Telegraphing to Captain William Craig, 
then at Bellair, Ohio, for a hay-press, we received, 
after repeating the message, the following reply : 

''Bellair, August 7, 1861. 
" I am unable to get hay-press, but, by going to 
Lake Erie, I might procure you a light-house." 

W. CRAIG, 

Captain and A. Q. M. 

We were sold, and, telling the joke gracefully, 
acknowledged the corn. At a later period, when 
upon a Board, at Beverly, to examine volunteer 
officers, he suggested, in a telegram to us, that not 
a few needed a "light-house," of the truth of 
which there is no doubt, for there are many illite- 
rate and incompetent officers in the Department 
of Western Virginia. 



HUMOR OF THE DEPARTMENT. 155 

Lieutenant L. D. Smith, of the Second Virginia 
Volunteers, was Acting Assistant Quartermas- 
ter, at Grafton. He is an active, energetic, busi- 
ness man ; and was ready to work, night and day, 
to promote the best interests of the service. Like 
ourself he knew nothing of regulations, when 
detailed for duty, and had to do with officers who 
knew less, and who believed they were entitled to 
receive every article they desired. A Sergeant, 
belonging to the Seventh Indiana Regiment, on 
one occasion, presented him with an order from a 
field officer, for twelve pounds of oats and fourteen 
pounds of hay, and was politely informed that 
officers could not draw forage for private horses. 
The Sergeant reported this to the officer, who, 
bursting with rage, rushed furiously to the office of 
the Lieutenant, and asked him in an imperious tone, 

"Are you the Quartermaster?" 

" I am." 

" Why do you disobey my orders, sir ? " 

""Who are you?" 

"I'm Colonel Spooner, Lieutenant-Colonel of the 
Seventh Indiana Eegiment, and want to know why 
you disobey my orders to issue oats for my horse?" 

" I have several reasons for so doing, Colonel 
Spooner. In the first place, I have no oats. In 
the second place, I have no money to buy them. 
In the third place, officers can not draw forage 
from Quartermasters. I could not issue to you, if 
even I had forage." 



156 THE CHANCES FOR MAKING A MILLION. 

" I did'nt come here, sir, to be informed as to 
my rights. I know them, and I'll have them. If 
you do not issue forage immediately, sir, I will 
report you to the General for disobedience of 
orders." 

" I can not accommodate you, Colonel ; and 
the best thing you can do, is to report me to the 
General." 

In a few moments an orderly summoned him 
before General Morris, and, repairing to his office, 
met the irascible Colonel. The General, in his usual 
mild manner, addressed the Lieutenant with — 

" Quartermaster Smith, what is the difficulty 
between you and Colonel Spooner ? " 

" General, he ordered me to issue forage for his 
private horse, which I have no power to do." 
"Is that all?" 
"That is all." 

Turning to Colonel Spooner, he inquired, 
"Is that the cause of your complaint ? " 
"It is. General." 

"Then I advise you to do as I do, and every 
other officer and gentleman does, send them to a 
private stable. You are allowed a certain amount 
for forage, and must buy your own feed. I trust, 
Colonel Spooner, you will enter no more com- 
plaints, but attend to your own business Good 
day, sir." 

Colonel Spooner made no more requisitions on 
Smith. 



I 



HUMOR OF THE DEPARTMENT. 157 

Among the patriotic Union men of "Western 
Virginia, Frank Pierpont, Governor of the " Re- 
stored Government of Virginia," stands pre-emi- 
nent. He is possessed of a strong will and great 
determination of character, and when Governor 
Letcher fell into the hands of the Secessionists and 
used his position and authority to raise the stand- 
ard of rebellion in the State, Frank Pierpont was 
one of the men who took bold and open ground 
against the movement. The loyal men of Western 
Virginia called a Convention at Wheeling, elected 
him Governor, and he went to work at once to 
put it in a state of defense ; raised regiments, and 
succeeded in obtaining a large supply of Quarter- 
master's stores and clothing, camp and garrison 
equipage for the troops. By mistake, ten thou- 
sand blankets got into the possession of some 
Quartermaster, and were, of course, issued. The 
Governor was sorely troubled. He telegraphed 
all the principal Quartermasters in the Department, 
that they had ten thousand blankets belonging to 
him, and directing that five thousand be sent him 
at once. He knew we had a large amount of 
every description of stores ; it might be they were 
at Clarksburg, and he ventured a telegram : 

Wheeling, September 10, 1861. 
Captain Leib, A. Q. M. : 

Ten thousand blankets, sent to my order for the 
Virginia Regiments, were sent to Clarksburg 



158 THE CHANCES FOR MAKING A MILLION. 

Send me five thousand of them by return train, if 
possible. 

F. H. PIERPOl^T. 

It was a shrewd move in the Governor, but did 
not win ; we knew nothing of them, and replied : 

Clarksburg, September 10, 1861. 
Governor F. H. Pierpont : 

I have no blankets, except such as I have 
receipted for. 

CHARLES LEIB, 

Captain and A. Q, M, 

The Governor was puzzled. It was evident 
there were plenty of blankets at our depot, and he 
must have some at all events. Coming down four 
thousand, he telegraphed : 

Wheeling, September 10, 1861. 
Captain Charles Lieb, A. Q. M. : 

I must, at least, have one thousand blankets. 

F. H. PIERPONT. 

We could not respond to the wishes of the Ex- 
ecutive, much as we desired to oblige him. His 
receipt would have been worthless at the Depart- 
ment at Washington, for although he was anxious 
to conduct the war in Western Virginia, the 
President had not, as in the case of the Governor 



HUMOR OF THE DEPARTMENT. 159 

of ^ew York, appointed him a Major-General. 
The receipts of an Assistant Quartermaster were 
of more importance to us than that of the Gov- 
ernor. Another dispatch followed :' 

Wheeling, September 11, 1861. 
Captain Leib, A. Q. M. 

Are you sending me any blankets to-day?" 

F. H. PIERPONT. 

Our reply was, " E'ary a blanket." 

But he was not to be put oiF. Blankets he was 
resolved to have from somebody; became impa- 
tient, then importunate, and finally Lieutenant 
Smith, Acting Assistant Quartermaster at Grafton, 
made a requisition for them, which we filled ; the 
Governor received them, and was happy. 

Old Mrs. Cline is known to every man, woman, 
and child in Clarksburg — and well she may be. 
For more than half a century she has sold " cakes 
and beer" to the youth of the town. The old 
sign, '' M. Cline, Cakes and Beer," is familiar to 
everybody. She is a queer looking, little, old 
woman, rejoices in high, white, starched caps, 
ornamented with a broad rufile; has a hooked 
nose, and a chin which appears anxious to get in 
close proximity with her nasal organ. The expres- 
sion of her eyes is peculiar, and when roused 
she is a perfect termagant. Her prejudices are 



160 THE CHANCES FOR MAKING A MILLION. 

strong, and we have heard it remarked, *' I'd 
rather meet a tiger than old Mrs. Cline, when she 
is mad." In the early part of the summer her 
shop was the resort of the men who were detailed 
for picket duty on the bridge crossing the west 
fork of Monongahela River. They entertained 
her with marvelous stories of war, and details of 
battles which had never been fought; at times 
making her hair almost stand on end, by telling 
her what the rebels would do if they ever took 
Clarksburg; and comforted her by vowing that 
they would protect her and her property, if they 
died in the attempt. Feeling very grateful, she 
would regale them on her best beer and finest 
cakes ; but in course of time their tales grew stale, 
and her liberality was at an end, for a large force 
was stationed there, and her fears were quieted. 
The men had no money, and they knew not what 
to do. One bright day in August, while one of the 
pickets stood leaning on his musket, a bright 
thought struck him, and turning to his comrade 
said : " I say, Jim, I'll tell you the way we'll come 
it over old Mrs. Cline. I mean to write an order 
on the Quartermaster for all we want, and as we're 
going to leave in a few days, wont she have a 
good time collecting it ? Would' nt I like to be at 
the Quartermaster's office, and see that red-nosed, 
goggle-eyed fellow, coming to get the money. 
Won't! the Captain move his boots ! " The cakes 
were got, and a few weeks afterward, while we 



HUMOR OF THE DEPARTMENT. 161 

Were busy, preparing the papers to turn over a 
large amount of Quartermaster's stores, the " red- 
nosed, goggle-eyed" individual made his appear- 
ance. Turning to him we said: 

" What can I do for you, sir? " 

"Why, Cap., I've a bill agin you, as 'ort to be 
paid." 

" Let me see it, sir." 

"We give a verbatim copy ; 

Captain Leib : 

KwATER Master 

too M Cline Detter 

tu cakes and Beer, got by the solgers, one dollar 
and a haf 1.50 

" I can't pay that bill, sir." 

" Well, but Cap., the boys got them, and here's 
the order for the pay." 

" They were not authorized to give orders 
on me." 

" It 's d d mean. Cap., any how. You ought 

to pay it, as you pay all the solgers' bills.'^ 

" You must go to those who got the cakes." 

" They've gone off." 

" I can not help you. Good day, sir. I want 
to be alone." 

He turned and left, but as he passed out of the 
door said : 

"Look here. Captain Leib, I hope you'll git 
turned out of office. Everybody says you won't 
14 



162 THE CHANCES FOR MAKING A MILLION. 

pay nobody until you can't help yourself; but I 
didn't think you'd be so mean, as not to pay old 
Mrs. Cline." 

The " boys," before leaving told the story of the 
order. Old Mrs. Cline declared : if that Quar- 
termaster ever came to her house for cakes and 
beer, she'd give him a piece of her mind. 

Captain F , Brigade Quartermaster in the 

three months' service, is a wag. He had little ex- 
perience in the Quartermaster's Department, but 
knew the importance of obtaining receipts. He 
had a holy horror of " red tape" and duplicate 
receipts. The men were fighting for their coun- 
try, and must be cared for. Every thing he issued 
he got such a receipt for as he could, and at the 
end of three months he had a keg full of memo- 
randum receipts and notes of issue. He knew 
the horses had eat the oats, corn, and hay; the men 
had used the clothing, fired away the ammunition, 
and used the rations. He had done his duty, and 
that was all he cared for. Before entering the 
three years' service, he concluded to send his 
papers to Washington, to enable the Quartermaster- 
General to settle his accounts. They were sent in 
a keg by express, with a letter advising General 
Meigs of their transmission. The General wrote 
him, stating that he did not understand them ; to 
which the Captain replied : that " if he. General 
Meigs, with his well known ability, and able corps 



HUMOR OF THE DEPARTMENT. 163 

of assistants, could not understand the papers, how 
could he expect a poor devil of a Quartermaster to 
explain them — one, too, who knew nothing of the 
duties of the position !" That letter finished the 
correspondence. 

The following descriptive list of a private of the 
Second German Ohio Regiment, written b}^ the 
Captain of his company, is a rare specimen of 
literature : 

Second German Ohio Regiment. 

William Tubbee, bravour of the compaigne 
" K," was born in the City of Osnabruck, King- 
dom of Hanover, Germanic. He is 33 (thirty- 
thry) old, and 5 feets 8 inges hich, and was been 
in this rigiment from the forst day of commance. 
He god too sesters in the city of Toledo, Ohio. 
"William Tubbee received from his compaigne — 1. 
1 blanket; 2. 1 hat; 1 poar ov shies; 4. 1 coat; 
5. 1 paar of pontoloons ; 6. 1 paar of pretches ; 
7. 2 paar unterschirts ; 8. 2 paars stockens ; 
9. 1 plaid; 10. 1 naif; 11. 1 fore; 12. 1 tinn cop. 

The Captain of the compaigne, 

TH. WICH. 

Irrational of William Tubbee : 
His hear is bron, 

" IToss is long, 

" Mouth is general, 

" Eyes are gray, 

" Moustache is lick his hear, 



164 THE CHANCES FOR MAKING A MILLION. 

The color of his face is white. 

William Tubbee oots to Meister Sodler too dollars. 

The Captain of the compaigne, 

TH. WICH. 

CAPTAIN LEIB AND HIS HORSE DOCTOR. 

A few days since, while Captain Leib, U. S. 
Quartermaster at this place, was very busy ship- 
ping some horses and wagons to Cumberland, he 
was interrupted by one of his clerks, who said : 
" Captain, here is a list of medicines the new horse 
doctor wants." 

The Captain took the paper, and glancing over 
it, exclaimed : " Angle worm oil ! " " Where is 
the horse doctor ? " 

"Here I am," answered a diminutive son of 
Erin from the crowd. 

Captain. — "Are you the horse doctor who 
comes so highly recommended ? " 

Doctor. — "Faith, I am, sur." 

Captain. — "Have you had much experience in 
the treatment of diseases of the horse ? " 

Doctor. — " Yes sur, a great dale. " 

Captain. — " Where ? " 

Doctor. — " In Ireland ; in the ould country. " 

Captain. — "Have you treated horses since you 
have been in this country?" 

Doctor. — "Yes sur, a great dale at Wiston. The 
farmers always called me, and I gave satisfaction. " 



HUMOR OF THE DEPARTMENT. 165 

Captain. — " For what diseases do you use 'angle 
iDorm oil ? ' " 

Doctor. — "Faith, yer honor, it's mighty good 
for the horse. " 

Captain. — " Are you familiar with the anatomy 
of the horse ? " 

Doctor. — " What is it ye'r saying? " 

Captain. — " Can you tell me the difference 
between pneumonia and lung- fever ? " 

Doctor. — " Don't know, sur. They may be all 
the same for what I know. " 

Captain. — "How is a horse affected by lung- 
fever?" 

Doctor. — " I — I — sure, sur — I — ^like he had the 
distimper — a running at the nose and mouth like." 

The Captain smiled, and sending for his cashier, 
said : " Mr. Steel, pay off the new horse doctor ; 
he won't do." 

It is evident that no man can remain long in the 
Quartermaster's Department unless he is compe- 
tent to discharge the duties for which he is 
engaged. 

The Captain remarked after the doctor left ; 
" I suppose that man and his friends, like many 
others who can't control this Department, will 
curse me, but I guess I can stand it. I came here 
to do my duty, not to be popular. " 



166 THE CHANCES FOR MAKING A MILLION. 



CHAPTER XIV. 

FORWARDING TROOPS. 

About the middle of September, General Lee, 
commanding the rebel forces on the south side of 
Cheat Mountain, made a bold attempt to surround 
the command of General Reynolds, but failed in 
spite of all his well-matured plans. Lee advanced 
toward General R-eynolds, but was driven back to 
his old position by the General, who was apprised 
of his movements. The greatly superior forces of 
the rebels, on the south side of Cheat Mountain, 
rendered it necessary for the General commanding 
to order reinforcements from Ohio and Indiana. 
Brigadier-General Robert C. Schenck, who was 
at Clarksburg, on his way to join General Rose- 
crans, having been advised of their coming, 
returned to Grafton to superintend their move- 
ments, and to attend to their thorough equipment. 
We received from him the following telegram : 

Grafton, Va., September 15, 1861. 
Captain Charles Leib: 

Milroy's Regiment will arrive here to-night, 
without knapsacks, haversacks, canteens, or over- 
coats. The knapsacks and haversacks can be 



FORWARDING TROOPS. 167 

furnished here. Can you supply canteens and 

overcoats ? Send them, if you can, or all you can, 

up to "Webster. 

ROBT. C. SCHEKCK, 

Brigadier- General, 

We answered : 

Clarksburg^ September 15, 1861. 
Brigadier- General R. C. Schenck: 

Have overcoats, but no canteens. Have orders 
to send them all to General Rosecrans. How 
many do you want for Milroy ? Answer. 

CHAS. LEIB, 
Captain and A, Q. M. 

The General answered that he must have ten 
hundred and fifty, and we took the responsibility 
of sending them. Without transportation, there 
was but one course to be pursued to get their camp 
and garrison equipage to the mountains. It was to 
impress sujcIi teams as were not already in the ser- 
vice. Such a dilapidated train was never before in 
the service of Uncle Sam, and it was with the great- 
est difficulty some of the horses reached Beverly. 
Most of them were wind-broken, spavined, and 
blind, and would have done discredit to the bone- 
yard, while the wagons were generally coupled 
and tied together with hickory withes. 

The weather in the mountains was becoming 
very cold; snow fell, and many of the soldiers 



168 THE CHANCES FOR MAKING A MILLION. 

were suffering for the want of clothing and shoes. 
Donations came thick and fast from their homes, 
and our storehouse, as well as that of the Quarter- 
master at Grafton, was filled almost to overflowing. 
These, together with clothing, were sent forward 
as fast as the goods arrived and the means of 
transportation enabled us to do so. So, too, with 
every Quartermaster on the line, and yet news- 
paper scribblers, for the sake of making readable 
and sensation articles — and men from whom we 
had a right to expect, at least, justice — without 
inquiring as to the reasons for the non-receipt of 
clothing, charged the Quartermasters with negli- 
gence in not obtaining it, and squandering what 
they did receive, to say nothing of their cursing, 
because their every request was not complied with, 
and whim gratified. The mails were filled with 
letters of complaint to the Quartermaster-General ; 
accusations of the dishonesty of Quartermasters 
freely made, and, even the poor Wagonmasters, 
who are required to receipt for the goods intrusted 
to their care, and to deliver them in good order 
and condition to the receiving officers, were accused 
of swindling, as will be seen by the following letter 
from an agent of Governor Morton, of Indiana, 
to General Meigs : 

Indianapolis, September, 1861. 
Being absent for two weeks, I have just returned 
from Cheat Mountain and Elkwater, as an agent 



FORWARDING TROOPS. 169 

of Governor Morton, looking after Indiana troops. 
I am satisfied the Government is being swindled 
by those Quartermasters, Wagon-trains, and, in 
fact, we are supporting all Western Virginia. I 
did not let those officers know my business. There 
should be a good business man, one who has dealt 
largely in produce, to look after all those men from 
Cincinnati through Western Virginia. We are 
swindled with moulded crackers, mast-fed pork, 
rain-water vinegar, and no fair proportion of any 
other supply. I am satisfied something is wrong. 

A. WALLACE. 

Frequently, these " agents" made their appear- 
ance in Western Virginia ; men who knew as little 
of the requirements of the service as an unborn 
child, and with unparalleled impudence would 
announce their mission, and demand to know all 
about the workings of the different Departments. 
They were generally political hacks and party 
favorites. Their gratuitous and ridiculous sug- 
gestions, and unasked for advice, to officers who 
were making every exertion to render comfortable 
the brave men who were baring their bosoms to 
the enemy, only provoked a smile of contempt. 
When men charge Quartermasters with stealing, 
they forget, if they ever knew, that they and their 
securities are responsible for every article that 
comes into their hands, whether it be a horse-shoe 
nail, a six-mule wagon, a thousand horses, or ten 
15 



170 THE CHANCES FOR MAKING A MILLION. 

thousand overcoats, and they are required to furnish 
the Department at Washington with a receipt for 
every article transferred to officers, and to account 
for what remains in their hands. So exact is the 
Auditor in the settlement of accounts, that if there 
is an error amounting to ^ve cents in a business 
of ^ye hundred thousand dollars per month, the 
account is returned for correction. It is not only 
the duty of the Quartermaster to care for the 
property transferred to him, but also to gather up 
every article abandoned by regiments when march- 
ing or changing stations. He is required to take 
it up on his property return, and having done so, 
is charged with it. The Quartermaster's Depart- 
ment is the pack-horse of the Army. While the 
duties of other officers are specifically laid down in 
the Army Regulations, Quartermasters occupy the 
pleasant position of being compelled, in many in- 
stances, to take the responsibility of acting without 
orders, w^hile a refusal to do so would subject them 
to a charge of neglect of duty, and render them 
amenable to a Court Martial. Upon page 159, 
" Revised Regulations for the Army of the United 
States," will be found the following paragraphs: 

Quartermaster's Department. 

" This Department provides the quarters and 
transportation of the Army, storage, and trans- 
portation for all army supplies : army clothing, 
camp and garrison equipage, cavalry and artillery 



FORWARDING TROOPS. 171 

horses, fael, forage, material for bedding and 
stationery. 

" The incidental expenses of the Army, paid 
through the Quartermaster's Department, includes 
per diem to extra duty men ; postage on public 
service ; the expenses of Court Martials ; of the pur- 
suit and apprehension of deserters ; of the burial of 
officers and soldiers ; of hired escorts ; of expresses ; 
interpreters, spies, and guides ; of veterinary sur- 
geons and medicines for horses, and of supplying 
posts with water ; and, generally, the proper and 
authorized expenses for the movements and opera- 
tions of the Army, not expressly assigned to any 
other Department." 

The man who enters this Department with the 
expectation of living an easy life, and who intrusts 
his business to his employees, it matters not how 
trustworthy they may be, or how much they may 
enjoy his confidence, will, ere three months pass 
over his head, find himself irrevocably involved. 

It requires care, watchfulness, promptness, and 
unbounded energy to discharge promptly and 
satisfactorily the duties of the position, and no 
credit is given by that exacting master, the Gov- 
ernment, for extraordinary exertions to protect 
its interests, regarding them, as they properly are, 
only in the line of duty. 

Upon one occasion, while busily engaged assist- 
ing our warehouse laborers unload half-a-dozen 



172 THE CHANCES FOR MAKING A MILLION. 

railroad cars, which, were filled with boxes of 
clothing, and performing more manual labor than 
any of them, an elegantly dressed Lieutenant- 
Colonel of Ohio Infantry approached one of our 
clerks, and inquired for Captain Leib. 

'' That's him," pointing to us. 

" "What, the man in his shirt sleeves, and striped 
cotton breeches, helping them Irishmen roll 
boxes?" 

" Yes, sir." 

" What in the deuce is he working for in that 
way, when he has plenty of men here ? " 

" He says they don't take hold in earnest, and 
he wants to give them a lesson." 

" He's the first Quartermaster I've seen since 
I've been in the service who would do that. Don't 
Captain. Leib belong to the regular Army ? " 

"He does." 

"Well, I must say he is the roughest looking 
regular officer I've ever seen. He must be down 
on red tape." 

" 'No, sir ; he's a stickler for regulations, and 
would' nt give the Secretary of War a mess-pan 
without the documents." 

" He makes the men jump round pretty brisk." 

"Yes, sir, he's a working man, and no man can 
stay with him unless he has some snap in him." 

"I should judge so, from the way he snaps ofl:* 
officers; at least I've been told he does." 

"He is pretty plain with them, when they come 



FORWARDING TROOPS. 173 

here and make all kinds of ridiculous requisitions, 
and get mad because tie won't fill tliem." 

When we got through, the Colonel introduced 
himself and said : 

" I want to draw a pair of Navy revolvers for 
myself." 

" You can't draw them." 

"Why not?" 

" Officers are required to furnish their own arms. 
You can get them from the Ordnance Sergeant by 
paying for them." 

"I was told I could get them by making a 
special requisition on you." 

" You were misinformed." 

" You let my Colonel have a pair." 

" I did not. If he got any, he paid Sergeant 
IN'ixon for them." 

" I may be mistaken, but I know he got them 
when we were here." 

" That is probable." 

The Colonel left the office, swearing that he 
knew we could have taken his receipts for the 
pistols, if we had desired. 

If there is among our readers one who is par- 
ticularly amiable, and can not say no, but desires 
to be cured of that weakness, let him secure an 
appointment as Assistant Quartermaster, and be 
ordered to Western Virginia, and in one month, 
in self defense, he will speak the dread word, with 
a hearty good will, when occasion requires. 



174 THE CHANCES FOR MAKING A MILLION. 



CHAPTER XV. 

VIRGINIA JUSTICE. 

Among others whose teams we were compelled 
to impress, were those of some of the relatives of 
one Dan Riblett, a Corporal in Captain A. C, 
Moore's company, Third Virginia Infantry. Rib- 
lett is a quarrelsome, disagreeable fellow, fond of 
drinking, and, when under the influence of liquor, 
exceedingly abusive. He was indignant that the 
teams were taken ; and meeting our Foragemaster, 
Thomas H. Croghan, (who had the matter in 
charge,) on Sunday, December 8th, heaped upon 
him the most vile abuse, to which Croghan replied 
in a spirited manner, but passed on. Late in the 
afternoon, Croghan, in company with Charles F. 
Beyland, and H. Clay Groff, two of our clerks, rode 
to the west end of the town, intending to make 
an excursion to the country ; but having no passes 
were turned back by the pickets stationed at the 
bridge across the west fork of the Monongahela 
River. Riblett was there, in company with other 
soldiers, but said nothing. The party had not 
gone more than one hundred yards, when he raised 
his rifle and fired at Croghan, the ball missing him, 
but taking effect in the right thigh of Mr. Bey- 



VIRGINIA JUSTICE. 1T5 

land, completely shattering the neck of the femur. 
Medical aid was procured, and the day following 
he was taken to the hospital. 

Colonel Ainsansel, Commanding the Post, or- 
dered Riblett to be put in irons, and sent to jail. 
.The deepest excitement pervaded the community, 
and the universal sentiment was that he should be 
hung forthwith. On being informed he had shot 
a man, Eiblett inquired with fiendish glee, whether 
it was Croghan ; and learning it was not, replied, 
he was sorry it was not him. 

He was examined before a Magistrate, and upon 
the evidence presented was committed for further 
examination by the Board of Magistrates. This 
board was composed of a set of old fogies ; most 
of them respectable farmers, but ignorant of the 
principles of law. Riblett was brought before 
them, the testimony heard, and he discharged 
on the ground that no one could swear that the 
ball which struck Beyland was fired from his rifle ; 
although he acknowledged he had fired at Croghan, 
who was in company with Beyland, and it was 
proven that no other gun had been discharged. It 
was a mockery of justice, and unworthy the char- 
acter claimed by the people of the Old Dominion. 

From what we learned, it appeared as if the 
court was not desirous of learning the facts, nor 
yet of thoroughly investigating the case. Had 
Beyland been a citizen of Virginia, and surrounded 
by influential friends, instead of being a foreigner 



176 THE CHANCES FOR MAKING A MILLION. 

and almost unknown, we can not but believe the 
result would have been diflerent. Beyland was a 
stranger, while the votes of the Eiblett family are 
required on election day. 

It is due the Attorney for the State to say that 
he did his duty in the case. 

Many of the people were kind to Beyland, and 
attentive to all his wants; not so with others. 
Some two months after the attempted assassina- 
tion, one A. M. Reiger, whom we have already 
mentioned as having been for a time Superintend- 
ent of our Express-line to Gauley Bridge, called 
and informed us that he had a bill against us, for 
having watched with Beyland for one day. We 
give the bill and receipt : 

Clarkshwg, March 18, 1862. 
Captain Charles Leib, A Q. M., 

To A. M. Reiger, Dr. 

To waiting one day on C. P. Beyland, shot by Dan Riblett, 

of the Third Virginia Infantry , %\ 50 

Received payment, 

A. M. REIGER. 

"We have no comments to make upon this 
extraordinary exhibition of Western Virginia 
generosity. 

Under the skillful treatment of Dr. Charles K. 
Winne, Assistant Surgeon U. S. Army, he improved 
much more rapidly than the nature of the injury 
led us to anticipate, and we trust that he will 



VIRGINIA JUSTICE. 177 

ultimately recover. Dr. Winne is an able and 
accomplished young surgeon. He has been in the 
Department of Western Virginia since the com- 
mencement of the war, and, for a long time, was 
in charge of two hospitals at Clarksburg. They 
having been "broken up," he was ordered to 
Parkersburg, and placed in charge of the General 
Hospital. He is a gentleman of rare literary 
attainments; is modest and unassuming, and de- 
voted to his profession. We have to regret that 
we can not say as much for all who are in the ser- 
vice in that capacity. "We know a number who 
can not write a prescription correctly. 



178 THE CHANCES FOR MAKING A MILLION 



CHAPTER XVI. 

CHIEF OF TRANSPORTATION. 

Our Chief of Transportation, Colonel David 
Runnion, of Chicago, is an extraordinary man. 
He was untiring in his labors, and no man ever 
served the Government more faithfully than did 
he. His life has been one of "ups and downs." 
At times rolling in wealth, then, by the reverses 
of fortune, left without a dollar, but never for a 
moment losing the energy which has marked his 
career. 

Colonel Eunnion was born in 1805, and is a na- 
tive of 'Sew Jersey, where he resided until his 
thirteenth year, when his parents determined to 
take up their residence in the "West. Young Rtin- 
nion, although a child, drove a four-horse team 
across the Alleghanies to Brownsville, Pennsyl- 
vania, where, procuring a flatboat, the family em- 
barked, with all their worldly goods, and floated 
down the river to Cincinnati, where they sold the 
boat, and, going into the interior, settled at the 
town of Lebanon. 

When of sufficient age, David was apprenticed to 
a tanner and currier, and having faithfully served 
his apprenticeship, abandoned the trade, which he 




Colonel David Runnion, Chief of Transportation. 



CHIEF OF TRANSPORTATION. 179 

heartily disliked, and, removing to Indiana, settled 
at Lafayette, a thriving and growing town, where 
he became extensively engaged in mercantile pur- 
suits, and had a number of branch stores scattered 
through the country. 

He was also an extensive dealer in and shipper 
of horses and cattle to the Southern market, espe- 
cially to ]^ew Orleans. A man of fine address, 
warm-hearted, frank, and generous almost to a 
fault, he became a favorite with the Hoosiers along 
the Wabash River, every one of whom knew 
" Uncle Dave Runnion." 

The reverses of 1837 so seriously afi'ected his 
business that he was obliged to suspend, and giv- 
ing up everything to his creditors, removed to St. 
Louis, and afterward to Cincinnati; in both of 
which places he was largely engaged in business. 

In 1855 Colonel Runnion removed to Chicago, 
the center of business in the ITorth-west, at that 
time crowded with capitalists from all parts of the 
country, making heavy investments in real estate. 
With the exception of San Francisco, no city in 
the country had been built up so rapidly, and 
enjoyed so great an amount of prosperity. Prop- 
erty commanded almost fabulous prices ; buildings 
were erected as if by magic ; and speculation was 
so rife that the poor man of to-day was a million- 
aire to-morrow. Engaging largely in the manu- 
facture of brick, in which he invested every dollar 
he had, besides having pledged his credit for a 



180 THE CHANCES FOR MAKING A MILLION. 

large amount, when the crash came in 1857 he went 
down, with a large indebtedness hanging over 
him which he was unable to discharge, but nearly 
all of which has since been paid. He then opened 
an agency for the sale of real estate, and among 
other large sales he made, was one to the rebel 
Colonel, John A. "Washington, of Mount Yernon 
notoriety, who, during the past summer, was shot 
by a party of Federal scouts, at Cheat Mountain, 
when making a reconnoissance of the position of 
our troops. 

The sale of real estate failing in consequence of 
the tightness of the money-market. Colonel Run- 
nion, like many other energetic business men, was 
thrown out of employment. Among the masses 
he was a favorite, and was nominated three differ- 
ent times for important political positions, by the 
friends of the late Senator Douglas, whose per- 
sonal friend, and warm admirer he was. 

On taking charge of the Quartermaster's Depart- 
ment, at Clarksburg, we found that we required 
the services of an energetic working man, to take 
charge of the Transportation Department, and 
telegraphed and tendered him the position, which, 
to our gratification, he accepted, and still holds. 
From the day he took charge his whole soul was 
wrapped up in his duties. During the months of 
August, September, and October, he was on horse- 
back, frequently, from four o'clock in the morning 
until midnight, attending to every minutia of his 



CHIEF OF TRANSPORTATION. 181 

department with the greatest promptitude, having 
hundreds of men, horses, mules, and a very large 
number of wagon-trains under his charge, besides 
attending to the purchase of forage required. He 
performed the labor of half-a-dozen ordinary men. 
It was amusing to watch him hurrying up the 
slow-motioned, old fogy Western Virginians en- 
gaged in transporting stores ; and yet with all his 
sternness of manner, he was a favorite with them. 
On one occasion. Captain Steel, now of the Com- 
missary Department, a most exemplary and com- 
petent officer, and correct business man, said to us : 

" Captain, I have a good joke on you." 

^'Indeed!" 

" Yes ; I heard half-a-dozen farmers cursing you 
this morning." 

" That 's nothing new. Captain." 

" They cursed your old, gray beard, and said you 
swore at them like a trooper, if they were not at 
the warehouse in time, and ready to load early in 
the morning," 

" Swore at my gray beard ? " 

" Yes ; but I told them that you had no beard, 
and that it was Colonel Runnion. They were sur- 
prised, and said that every body thinks you are 
the man with the long, gray whiskers." 

A FENCE MAN. 

For twenty-five years, Eli Marsh, or, as he is 
deferentially called. Colonel Marsh, ruled the 



1S2 THE CHANCES FOR MAKING A MILLION. 

democracy of Harrison County with a rod of iron. 
He is tlie political "Gamaliel," at whose feet the 
democratic youth are reared, and woe to him who 
incurs his displeasure. His hopes of getting his 
hands into the political flesh-pots of the county 
are at an end. Like many other democrats of his 
class, Eli thought democracy meant secession, but, 
fearing his property might be confiscated, dared 
not avow his sentiments. An order had been 
issued requiring every citizen whose loyalty was 
questioned, to take the following oath before he 
could obtain a pass to enable him to pass the 
pickets : 

" I do solemnly swear that 1 will support, pro- 
tect, and defend the Constitution and Government 
of the United States against its enemies, whether 
domestic or foreign, and that I will bear true faith, 
allegiance, and loyalty to the same, any ordinance, 
resolution, or law of any State Convention to the 
contrary notwithstanding. That I do this with a 
full determination, pledge, or purpose, without 
any mental reservation or evasion whatsoever: 
and, further, that I will well and faithfully perform 
all the duties required of me by law. So help me 
God." 

This was distasteful to Eli, who, on several occa- 
sions had succeeded, through the influence of a 
Union man, in obtaining a pass without being 
required to comply with the order. Thinking he 
had a powerful friend at court, he visited the town, 



CHIEF OF TRANSPORTATION. 183 

as usual, not knowing tlie Commandant of the 
Post liad been changed, but, soon after his arrival, 
learned it, to his chagrin. Captain A. C. Moore, 
the commandant, was absent, and w^e were tempo- 
rarily in command. Strong appeals were made to 
us in his behalf, but to no purpose. Eli then came 
himself. 

" Captain Leib, I understand you are Com- 
mander of the Post just now." 

" I am, sir." 

" I would like to have a pass." 

" You can get one by taking the oath." 

"But, Captain, Pm an old man, and never did 
such a thing before, and don't want to do it now." 

"What position do you occupy? Are you a 
Union man or a Secessionist ? " 

" I do n't take any part. If the Federals suc- 
ceed, or if Davis succeeds, I can live under either 
government. I have n't been away from home 
over night for four years ; besides, I have a sick 
daughter, who requires my care." 

" Occupying the position you do, you can not 
get a pass without taking the oath. The order 
must be enforced." 

" I was told so before. When Dave Hewes was 
Commander, I was refused ; but my friend Waldo 
Goff went to him, and got me a pass in ten 
minutes." 

" Colonel Hewes may have given you one at the 
request of Mr. Goff, but if he and every other man 



184 THE CHANCES FOR MAKING A MILLION. 

in town would ask one for you, I would not grant 
it." 

" But, Captain, I am not an enemy of the 
Government." 

"You are not its friend. If you were, you 
would not object to taking the oath. Loyal men 
always take pleasure in declaring their devotion 
to the Union. Those who are disloyal must take 
the oath, or remain here until the rebellion is 
crushed." 

" I will give you any security you may require, 
that I will not take part for either party." 

" Colonel Marsh, I will settle this question defi- 
nitely. If my father were here, and were not a 
loyal man, much as I honor and revere him, he 
could not leave this town without taking the 
oath." 

The Colonel was satisfied we were in earnest ; 
notwithstanding which he sent some of his per- 
sonal friends to importune us, and we were waited 
on by a lady upon the subject, but to no purpose. 

The Hon. Mr. Lewis, ex-Member of Congress, 
called upon us as his friend. 

" Captain, Colonel Marsh is exceedingly anxious 
to go home." 

" JS'o doubt of it." 

" He does not want to take the oath. He is a 
very determined man ; is headstrong, and likes to 
have his own way." 

" /Well, sir, what does he desire ? " 



CHIEF OP TRANSPORTATION. 185 

" He has said he will not take the oath, and 
sticks to it ; but desires you to take his parole. 
He is a man of honor, and you can trust him." 

"Is Colonel Marsh an enemy of the Govern- 
m'ent ? " 

" He says he is not." 

" Then I can not take his parole. It can only 
be taken from our enemies." 

*'I have nothing more to say. I see you are 
determined he shall take the oath, or remain 
here." 

" I am." 

He remained in town six weeks, growling at the 
Government, the tyranny of the military authori- 
ties ; and had bis pseudo-Union friends write and 
telegraph the Commanding General, requesting 
that an order might be issued giving him per- 
mission to leave, but to no purpose. 

After six weeks of lamentation he took the 
oath. It was the first time he had been compelled 
to yield his stubborn will, and Union men and 
Secessionists quietly rejoiced that, for once in his 
life, Eli Marsh had not had his own way. 
16 



186 THE CHANCES FOR MAKING A MILLION. 



CHAPTER XVII. 

WE ARE REJECTED. 

On tne 23d of February, we learned by the tele- 
graphic dispatches from Washington City, that the 
Senate had rejected us, on the ground that we had 
a million of dollars unaccounted for. The charge 
was so ridiculous that it only provoked a smile of 
contempt. 

Desirous of knowing, however, the truth of the 
statement, a member of the Military Committee 
was telegraphed upon the subject, who replied, he 
had "not even heard such a report of Captain 
Leib." 

It was a cowardly lie invented by an enemy, 
who desired to do us an injury. We were rejected 
for reasons of a political character, through the 
influence of a Senator noted for his heartlessness, 
and the pertinacity with which he follows those 
who will not do his bidding, and act in concert 
with his tools in the State he represents, and of 
which we are a citizen. 

For months, parties in his interest at Washing- 
ton City, boasted that we would be defeated, and 
yet no charge was brought against ua but what 



WE ARE REJECTED. 187 

we could meet. We were aware of the hostility 
of this Senator, but our duties were so arduous 
and pressing, that, in justice to the service, we 
could not, nor would we ask leave of absence to 
go to Washington to secure our confirmation. 

He defeated us at the former session of Congress, 
but we were re-appointed upon the recommenda- 
tion, and at the urgent request, of Brigadier- 
General William S. Rosecrans, Commanding the 
Department ; Brigadier-General B. F. Kelley, 
Brigadier-General James Oakes, Captain John G. 
Chandler, A. Q. M., the Chief Quartermaster of 
the Department of Western Virginia, and a large 
number of ofiicers then stationed at Clarksburg. 
Their letters in our behalf were filed in the War 
Department ; but when they were wanted, while 
our confirmation was pending before the Senate, 
they could not be found. 

Our rejection afforded infinite satisfaction to 
the Shylocks, sharks, and thieves, who, for nine 
months, had tried to get their hands into the pub- 
lic treasury, but failed. Many of those who had 
defamed and abused us, expressed their regrets at 
our rejection, for which we did not thank them ; 
and only hope they will endeavor to conduct them- 
selves with propriety toward our successor, and 
behave like decent, honest men, and prove them- 
selves true friends of the Government, instead of 
being traitors in disguise, as we have reason to 
believe they are. 



188 THE CHANCES FOR MAKING A MILLION. 

Prom a large number of letters forwarded the 
Military Committee of the Senate, in favor of our 
confirmation, we select the following : 

Headquarters Department of Western Virginia, 

Wheeling, December 23, 1861. 
Hon. Henry Wilson, 

Chr'n Military Committee, U. S. Senate : 

Washington, D. C. 
Dear General — Captain Charles Leib was sent 
to this Department inexperienced, and without 
experienced clerks ; stationed at Clarksburg at a 
time when large and imperative demands were 
made on the Quartermaster's Department for every 
kind of service and supply. His devotion to duty 
was untiring, and his success very creditable. 

After his rejection by the Senate, I have con- 
tinued to watch his course, and it has been carefully 
observed by the Chief Quartermaster. My conclu- 
sion is, that he is a capable, energetic business man, 
and that his appointment will be a benefit to the 
service. I hope he may not be refused it. 
I am, very truly, your^, etc., 

W. S. ROSECRAI^S, 

Brigadier- General U. S.Army. 

Wheeling, Va., February 7, 1862. 
Hon. Henry Wilson, 

U. S. Senate : 
Dear Sir — You have before the Senate, for 



WE ARE REJECTED. 189 

confirmation, the nomination of Captain Charles 
Leib, of the Eleventh Eegiment United States 
Infantry. He asks my testimony as to his com- 
petency and efficiency as an officer, and I most 
cheerfully give it to yon. 

Captain Leib has been acting for many months as 
Quartermaster in this Department. In September 
and October last, my duties brought me into close 
relations with him in that capacity, and with pecu- 
liar opportunities to observe the service he was ren- 
dering the Government ; ever since I have heard 
the most constant account of him. His prompt- 
ness^ activity, and ability are such that I regard him 
as one of the best and most effective officers of his 
grade whom I have known since I have been in the 
service. 

Very respectfully, yours, 

EGBERT C. SCHE:^rCK, 

Brigadier- General. 



Wheeling, February 6, 1862. 
To THE Chairman of the Military Committee, 
Washington : 
I take pleasure in bearing my testimony to the 
efficiency with which Captain Leib has discharged 
his duty as Quartermaster, at Clarksburg. During 
the past summer and fall, I had command of this 
"district of Grafton," which embraces Captain 
Leib's post. He is a man of great energy and 



190 THE CHANCES FOR MAKING A MILLION. 

promptness, and has rendered general satisfaction 
to the officers of my command. 
Hespectfully yours, 

B. F. KELLEY, 
Brigadier- General, 

Cheat Mountain Summit , Va., 

October 12, 1861. 

To WHOM IT MAY CONCERN : 

The undersigned having charge of a regiment 
in Western Virginia, being the Thirty-second 
Ohio, and having come to this State destitute as 
to an outfit for my regiment, I have been brought 
in contact with all, or nearly all, the Post Quarter- 
masters in Western Virginia; and being much 
surprised at seeing in the public press attacks 
made upon the integrity of Captain Charles Leib, 
Quartermaster of the Post at Clarksburg, Virginia, 
without any kind of solicitations from any one, 
believing that the public interest demands it of 
me, I make this voluntary statement. 

I have thus far furnished my regiment with 
every thing through Captain Charles Leib, at 
Clarksburg, Virginia, and can testify that he is 
the most active, intelligent, energetic, honest, and 
accommodating Quartermaster on the entire line, 
and disposed, in all things, to accommodate Army 
officers to the utmost extent of his capacity. I 
have found him in all things strictly honest and 
upright. I have not only noticed it in his dealings 



WE ARE REJECTED. 191 

witli myself, but with others. The charges that 
have been made against him are without founda- 
tion in fact, to my certain knowledge, and are but 
the fabrications of disappointed persons who 
sought, and failed, to use Captain Leib for the 
promotion of their own base ends, assisted by rebels 
to whom the Captain has given no quarters, and 
whom he has controlled for the public good alone. 
Captain Charles Leib, wherever known, needs 
no recommendation from any one, for he is a gen- 
tleman who recommends himself to all who make 
his acquaintance. This volunteer offering is, 
therefore, given for the benefit of those who know 
me, and have not the pleasure of an acquaintance 
with the Captain. 

THOMAS H. FORD, 
Colonel Thirty-second Ohio Vol., TJ. S. A. 

Clarksburg, Va,, September 18, 1861. 
General Henry Wilson, 

Chr^n Military Committee, U. S. Senate : 

Dear Sir: — Captain Charles Leib, U. S. Army, 
Assistant Quartermaster at this point, has been in 
command of that Department during the whole 
time I have been in command of this Post. 

I desire to say that no man could have dis- 
charged the perplexing and responsible, as well as 
arduous, duties with more ability than he has. He 
is prompt, energetic, determined, quick to act; is a 
man of coolness, and is eminently qualified for the 



192 THE CHANCES FOR MAKING A MILLION. 

post he holds, and, in a case of emergency, proved 
himself a true soldier. I sincerely hope Captain 
Leib may be confirmed by the Senate, and, in say- 
ing this, but express the wishes of the officers and 
men of my command. 

Yery respectfully, your obedient servant, 

D. T. HEWES, 
Colonel Commanding Post. 

Camp Company " E.," Fourth Artillery, U.S.A., 

Clarksburg, Va., December 4, 1861. 
General : — Captain Charles Leib, Assistant 
Quartermaster U. S. Army, will, he informs us, 
come before the Senate for confirmation. 

As officers of the Fourth Artillery, having been 
stationed here during the past summer, we desire 
to bear testimony to the prompt and faithful 
manner in which he has discharged his duties. 

He has been obliging and courteous in all his 
intercourse with us, and we believe him to be a 
true and faithful public servant. 

We have the honor to subscribe ourselves. General, 
with great respect, your most obedient servants, 

R. Y. W. HOWARD, 

Cajytain Fourth Artillery. 
STEPHEIsr WHITITEY, 
First Lieutenant Fourth Artillery. 

AUG. C. CRAYEl^, 
Second Lieutenant Fourth Artillery. 
General Henry Wilson, 

Chairman Military Committee, Washington City. 



AVE ARE REJECTED. 193 

Grafton, Vcl, January 2, 1862. 
Hon. Henry Wilson, 

Cfw'n of Military Committee, U. S. Senate, 
It affords me much pleasure to unite with many 
other officers in the Army, in our expression of ap- 
proval of the services of Captain Charles Leib, 
Assistant Quartermaster, at Clarksburg, Virginia. 
During the past seven months. Government stores 
to the amount of several hundred thousand dollars 
have passed from the post of which I have had 
the honor to have in charge, for all of which Cap- 
tain Leib has receipted promptly. He has, by his 
urbanity of manners and his strict attention to 
business, in his intercourse with the officers of the 
Army and others, contributed to facilitate the pub- 
lic service in an eminent degree. If strict atten- 
tion to duty, and a desire to perform that duty, 
will entitle an officer to the approval of his Gov- 
ernment, I have no hesitation in saying that 
Captain Leib is deserving such consideration. 

D. L. SMITH, 
Captain Second Virginia Volunteers, 
A. A, Quartermaster. 

Clarksburg, January 9, 1862. 
8ir: — Although personally unknown to you, 
permit me, as an officer of the Army, to bear tes- 
timony to the prompt and energetic manner in 
which Captain Leib, Assistant Quartermaster at 
this the most important post in Western Virginia, 



194 THE CHANCES FOR MAKING A MILLION. 

has performed the perplexing and arduous duties 
devolving upon him. I have been stationed here 
since September 1st, and have been in almost daily 
communication with him. I have never made a 
requisition upon him that he has not promptly 
filled, while his devotion to duty is acknowledged 
by every officer of the army stationed here during 
the fall. He is always at his post, and in all my 
intercourse with him I have found him a courteous 
2:entleman. 

Hoping he may be confirmed by the Senate, I 
am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, 

^ C. K. WIKI^E, 
Assistant Surgeon, U. S. Army. 
To Hon. Henry Wilson, 

Chairman Military Committee. 

Leib Barracks, 
Clarksburg, Va., December 3, 1861. 
General H. Wilson, 

Chairman Military Committee U. S. S.: 
General: — The undersio:ned officers of the 
First Virginia Cavalry desire to bear testimony to 
the efficient and faithful manner in which the 
Assistant Quartermaster at this post. Captain C. 
Leib, has discharged his public duties. We have, 
ever since the First Virginia Cavalry has been 
stationed here, been in daily communication with 
Captain Leib, and feel it incumbent on us to say, 
that while he has been exceeding strict in all his 



WE ARE REJECTED. 195 

dealings with us, he has, at the same time, been 
just and obliging. The Quartermaster's Depart- 
ment has no more prompt and honest officer than 
Captain Leib, and we hope the Senate will unani- 
mously conUrm him. 

H. AKISANSEL, 
Colonel First Virginia Cavalry. 
JST. P. RICHMOND, 
Lieutenant- Colonel First Virginia Cavalry. 
J. S. KREPPS, 
Major First Virginia Cavalry. 
HEISTRY CAPEHEART, 
Surgeon First Virginia Cavalry. 
C. C. KREPPS, 
Adjutant First Virginia Cavalry. 
THOS. H. REEVES, 
Captain First Virginia Cavalry. 

ROBERT WARD, 
Captain Frst Virginia Cavalry. 
AUGUSTUS I^ORTON^, 
First Lieutenant Frst Virginia Cavalry. 
SAMUEL LIDY, 
Second Lieutenant Frst Virginia Cavalry. 

W. C. MULLEI!^, 
Second Lieutenant First Virginia Cavalry. 
J. S. SHUMAJSr, 
Captain First Virginia Cavalry. 

JOHlSr HESS, 
Captain First Virginia Cavalry. 



196 THE CHANCES FOR MAKING A MILLION. 

J. STEIN, 

First Lieutenant First Virginia Cavalry. 

J. P. wiLsoisr, 

First Lieutenant First Virginia Cavalry. 

S. B. HOWE, 
Second Lieutenant First Virginia Cavalry. 

WM. 1^. HAEEISS, 
Second Lieutenant First Virginia Cavalry. 

Parkershurg, Va., October 21, 1861. 
General Henry Wilson: 

I have visited Clarksburg every week for some 
three months past, and can say that I have always 
seen Captain Charles Leib at his post and ready 
for duty, which, as far as I have noticed, he has 
performed with promptness; and I can say, from 
close observation, that he has made an efficient 
officer; his labors have been attended with per- 
plexity, but withal he has discharged them hon- 
estly and faithfully. My connection with the 
office has led me to observe closely his ability and 
attention, and, I am free to say, that I believe he 
has performed all that the Government has 
required. 

Yours, respectfully, 

JOHIT F. HOY, 

Lieutenant- Colon el Sixth Virginia Regiment. 



WE ARE REJECTED. 197 

After our rejection, without our knowledge, the 
following letter was sent to Hon. Henry S. Lane, 
a member of the Military Committee : 

Wheeling, Va., March 1, 1862. 
Hon. Henry S. Lane, U. S. Senate, 
Washington City, D. C. 
Sir — We have heard with great regret that the 
appointment of Captain Charles Leib, Assistant 
Quartermaster, United States Army, has been 
rejected by the United States Senate, and deem it 
our duty to state, for the best interest of the serv- 
ice, that we are familiar with the manner in which 
this officer has heretofore discharged his duty as 
an agent of the Government, and consider him 
one of the most active, energetic, and industrious 
officers in the service. He has, we firmly believe, 
consulted only the interests of the public service 
at all times; and we earnestly hope the Senate 
will reconsider their action in the case of Captain 
Lfeib, and continue him in the service, as Assistant 
Quartermaster, in the Department of Western 
Virginia. 

We are, very respectfully, 

Your obedient servants, 

W. S. ROSECRANS, 

Brigadier- General, U. JS. A, 



198 THE CHANCES FOR MAKING A MILLION. 

By a note in my possession, I am authorized by 
General Denver to add his name to the above. 
W. S. ROSECRAl^S, 

Brigadier 'General, U. S. A. 
ROB'T C. SOHEIS'CK, 

Brigadier- General, U. S. Vol. 

See also a letter heretofore written by me to 
Hon. Henry Wilson, United States Senator from 
Massachusetts. 

R. C. S. 
E. E. CLARY, 
Major and Chief Quartermaster, 
Department of W. Va. 

I am free to state, from the best information I 
have been able to obtain of the manner in which 
Charles Leib conducted his business at Clarks- 
burg, since the commencement of the war, he is a 
good Quartermaster. 

F. H. PIERPONT, 

Governor of Virginia, 
Wheeling, Va., March 3, 1862. 

Cumberland, March 12, 1862. 
Sir— 

I join heartily with Generals Rosecrans and 
Schenck, in calling your attention to the case of 
Captain Charles Leib. 

I have known Captain Leib, as a Quartermaster, 
in A\^efltern Virginia, for several months, and can 



WE ARE REJECTED. 199 

assure you that, for capacity, energy, and integrity, 
he has no superior. 

It is my conviction, that his earnest desire to do 
his duty to the Government, and his attempt to 
carry out instructions, regardless of favor, have 
created the active enemies he is now suffering 
from. 

It seems strange, that men of questionable capac- 
ity and integrity should be selected, confirmed, and 
sustained, in these offices, while the one man, who 
has striven to fill his place, with an eye singly 
to the public good, should be thrown out and 
disgraced. 

Believing that in the loss of Captain Leib, the 
Department will be deprived of a faithful servant, 
I hasten to write you this. 

I am, sir, yours respectfully, 

D0N:N' PIATT, 

Assistant Adjutant General. 
Hon. Edwin M. Stanton, 

Secretary of War. 

Stricken down, attempted to be disgraced, we 
felt most deeply the compliment paid us by these 
letters. 

On the first day of April we were relieved from 
duty by Captain J. M. Huntington, A. Q. M. We 
had no regrets at retiring from the Department. 
We had done our duty, and gained the confidence 



200 THE CHANCES FOR MAKING A MILLION. 

of the General commanding the Department, and 
the Chief Quartermaster. 

A large number of officers urged us to go to 
Washington, and ask a re-nomination by the Presi- 
dent; but we would not do so. We served the 
Government faithfully, and have nothing to ask 
of those who have done us such gross injustice. 



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